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PRESENTED BY 



FIVE BOOKS 

OF THE 

HISTORY 



OF 



C. CORNELIUS TACITUS, 

WITH 

HIS TREATISE 

ON THE 

MANNERS OF THE GERMANS, 

AND HIS 

LIFE OF AGRICOLA. 



FROM THE LAST GERMAN EDITION OF THE WORK> 
OF TACITUS. 



WITH ENGLISH NOTES, ORIGINAL AND 
COMPILED j 

BX 

E. B. WILLISTON, 

PROFESSOR OF THE GREEK AND LATIN LANGUAGES AND 

LITERATURE IN THE AMERICAN LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC 

AND MILITARY ACADEMY. 

*&* * 

HARTFORD: 
O. D. COOKE & CO. 

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REMARKS. 

SoilE examples of ancient Orthography will be found in the text \ 
such as the use of ss for s, as caussa for causa ; ll fer l, as paullo 
for paulo ; e for as, as ceteri for c&teri ; M for n, as tamquam for 
tanquam, umquam for unquam. 

Prepositions in composition, usually remain unchanged, as conloco 
instead of colloco, adfero instead of affero, &d. 

This edition is believed to be entirely free from errors in punctua- 
tion, which are very numerous in former American editions. 

The notes are partly original, partly translated from those of 
Barbou, but principally selected from those of Murphy. Should they 
prove an assistance to the student in acquiring a knowledge of this 
difficult, but highly valuable author, the design of the compiler will 
be entirely answered. 



LIFE OF TACITUS. 



Sfc- 



Caius Cornelius Tacitus was born in the year of Rome 
809 or 810. His father was a Roman knight who had 
been appointed governor of Belgic Gaul. The genius and 
virtue of Tacitus recommended him to the emperor Ves- 
pasian, and as he wished to protect and patronize merit he 
advanced him while young to places of trust and honour. 
The succeeding emperors were not less partial to Tacitus, 
and Domitian seemed to forget his cruelties when talents 
and virtue claimed his patronage. Tacitus was honoured 
with the consulship, and he gave proofs of his eloquence at 
the bar, by supporting the cause of the injured Africans 
against the proconsul Marius Priscus, and in procuring his 
condemnation for his avarice and extortion. The friendly 
intercourse of Pliny and Tacitus has often been admired, 
and many have observed, that the familiarity of these two 
great men arose from similar principles, and a perfect con- 
formity of manners and opinions. 

Yet Tacitus was as much the friend of a republican go- 
yernment, as Pliny was an admirer of the imperial power, 
and of the short-lived virtues of his patron Trajan. Pliny 
gained the hearts of his adherents by affability, and all the 
elegant graces which became the courtier and the favour- 
ite, while Tacitus conciliated the esteem of the world by 
his virtuous conduct which prudence and a love of honour 
ever guided. The time of Tacitus was not employed in 
trivial pursuits ; the orator might have now been forgotten 
if the historian had not flourished. Tacitus wrote a trea- 



vi LIFE OF TACITUS. 

tise on the manners of the Germans, a composition admired 
for the fidelity and exactness with which it is executed. 
His life of Agricola, whose daughter he had married, is 
celebrated for its purity, elegance, and the many excellent 
instructions and important truths which it relates. 

His history of the Roman emperors is imperfect. It 
embraced a period of twenty-eight years, that is, from the 
69th to the 96th year of the Christian era. Of this nothing 
remains but the history of the 69th year and part of the 
70th. Part of the fifth book, containing three years of Ti- 
berius ; the entire four years of Caligula, the six first of 
Claudius, and the two last of Nero, have perished in the 
wreck of literature. His annals were the most extensive 
and complete of his works. Tacitus had reserved for his 
old age the reigns of Nerva and Trajan, and he also pro- 
posed to give to the world an account of the interesting ad- 
ministration of Augustus ; but these important subjects 
never employed the pen of the historian, and, as some of 
the ancients observe, all the writings of Tacitus were con- 
tained in thirty books, of which we have now left only six- 
teen of his annals and five of his history. The style of 
Tacitus has always been admired for peculiar beauties ; 
the thoughts are great, there is sublimity, force, weight 
and energy ; every thing is treated with precision and dig- 
nity ; yet many have called him obscure because he was 
fond of expressing his ideas in a few words. His own la- 
conic manner, and, it may be added, the omissions of the 
copyists r have occasioned some difficulties ; but he, wha 
has made himself familiar with the peculiarities of the style, 
will not be much embarrassed. By due attention to the 
context, the true, or at least the probable meaning may al- 
ways be found. His Latin is remarkable for its purity ; 
and though a writer in the decline of the Roman empire, 
he has not used barbarous expressions, but with him every 
thing is sanctioned by the authority of the writers of the 
Augustan age. 

A profound judge of men, and a severe censor of man- 
ners, he has delineated with the pencil of a master, the 
characters and the very inward frame of the vile and pro- 
fligate ; while the good and upright receive, in his immor- 
tal page, the recompense due to their virtue. 

Affairs of importance are treated with dignity ; the secret 
causes of events and revolutions are investigated from their 



LIFE OF TACITUS. *S 

primary sources, and the historian every where shows him- 
self a friend of public liberty, a lover of truth, anxious for 
the general welfare of mankind, and an inveterate enemy 
to oppression. The history of the reign of Tiberius is his 
master-piece, the deep policy, the dissimulation and various 
intrigues of this celebrated prince, are painted with all the 
fidelity of the historian. Tacitus boasted, that he never 
would flatter the follies, or maliciously or partially repre- 
sent the extravagance of the several characters he delineat- 
ed. He was distinguished for candour and impartiality. 
Some ecclesiastical writers have exclaimed against Tacitus 
on account of the partial manner in which he speaks of the 
Jews and Christians ; but it should be remembered, that he 
spoke the language of the Romans, and that the peculiarities 
of the Christians could not but draw upon them the odium 
and ridicule of the Pagans, and the imputation of supersti- 
tion. The time of his death is not mentioned by any an- 
cient author ; no stone, no inscription has been found to 
tell where the remains of our author were deposited ; but 
he whose works are a lasting memorial, monumentum &re 
perennius, did not stand in need of perishable materials. 



THE 

HISTORY 



OF 



TACITUS. 

BOOK I. 



CONTENTS, 
BOOK I. 

!. Preface to the History. II. Summary view of the whole work. 
State of the city, the armies, and the provinces. VI Galba' s 
court, and the reigning vices. VIII. Condition of Spain, Gaul, 
Upper and Lower Germany, Syria, Egypt and Africa. The 
war against the Jews conducted by Vespasian. XII. Revolt of 
the legions in Upper Germany. Galba consults about the choice 
of a successor. Different opinions among his ministers, Vinius, 
Laco, and Icelus, one of his freedmen. Otho has hopes of the 
nomination. XIV. Choice of Piso for the succession. XV. Gal- 
ba's speech upon the occasion. He declares his adoption of Piso 
in the camn and in the senate. Ill-timed severity of Galba. An 
embassy to the German legions. XXI. Otho plans a revolution. 
He corrupts the praetorian guards. Two common soldiers under- 
take to dispose of tne sovereignty. Otho proclaimed emperor, 
XXIX. Galba, in the mean time, employed in a sacrifice in the 
Capitol. Piso's speech to the soldiers. XXXVII. Otho har- 
rangaes the praetorians in the camp. XL. They rush into the 
city. Galba murdered. XL1I. Death of Titus Vinius. The 
constancy of a centurion. Piso put to death. Otho received 
with adulation by the senate and people. XL VI. All things di- 
rected by the soldiers. Numbers executed. Marius Celsus sav- 
ed by the artifice of Otho. XL VIII. Characters of Piso and Titus 

2* 



i e. corn, tacit i. i. v. c. m* 

Vinius. XLIX. Character of Galba. L. Vitellius, before Ga*- 
ba's death, aims at the sovereignty. LI. Origin of the revolt 
among the German legions. Vitellius saluted emperor. He sends 
two armies to invade Italy, one under Fabius Valens, and the 
other under Caecina. Vitellius follows with a third army. His 
excessive luxury and stupidity. The cruelty and rapine of Va- 
lens and Csecina. LXIII. The Gauls, partly through fear, and 
partly from inclination, swear fidelity to Vitellius. LXIV. Va- 
lens on his march hears of the death of Galba. LXVII. Caecina 
attacks the Helvetians, and lays waste the country. He crosses 
the Alps into Italy. LXXI. Otho's conduct at Rome : he begins 
to act with vigour. LXXII. Death of Tigellinus, and his cha- 
racter. LXXIV. Letters between Otho and Vitellius : they en- 
deavour to overreach each other. Emissaries employed by 
both. The people of Sarmatia invade the province of Mcesia, 
and are put to rout with great slaughter. LXXX. An insurrec- 
tion of the soldiers at Rome. LXXXIII. Otho's speech to the sol- 
diers. LXXXVI. Portents and prodigies spread a general alarm 
at Rome. LXXXVII. Otho consults about the operations of the 
war : he appoints his generals, and sends his fleet to invade the 
Narbon Gaul. LXXXIX. Melancholy condition of the people at 
Rome. Otho proceeds on his expedition against the Vitellian 
forces, and leaves his brother, Salvius Titianus, chief governor 
at Rome. 

These transactions passed in a few months. 

Year of Rome, 822. Of Christ, 69. 

Consuls ; Servius Galba, 2d time, Titus Vinius Rufinus. 



Initium rnihi operis Ser. Galba iterum, T. Vinius Con- 
sules erunt. Nam, post conditam urbem, septingentos et 
viginti prioris aevi annos (a) multi auctores retuleruntj 
dum res populi Rom. (b) memorabantur pari eloquentia ac 
libertate. Postquam bellaturn apud Actium, atque omnem 
potestatem ad unum conferri pacis interfuit, magna ilia in- 
genia cessere : simul Veritas pluribus modis infracta ; pri- 
mum inscitia Reipublicse ut aliens, raox libidine adsen- 
tandi, aut rursus odio adversus dominantes : ita neutris cura 

a Tacitus computes 820 years from the foundation of Rome to 
the death of Nero, when the following history begins. The battle 
of Actium was in the year of Rome 723 ; from that time to the reign 
of Augustu?, and the succeeding emperors, forms a period of 98 
years to the death of Nero, who killed himself A. U. C. 821. 

b The history of Rome to the end of the Republic, is emphati- 
cally called by Tacitus, the history of the Roman people. From 
the battle of Actium, it is properly the history of the Emperors* 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 3 

posteritatis, inter infensos vel obnoxios, (c) Sed ambi fe 
tionem scriptoris facile adverseris ; obtrectatio et livor 
pronis auribus accipiuntur, quippe adulationi fcedum cri- 
men servitutis, malignitati falsa species libertatis inest. Mi- 
hi Galba, Otho, Vitellius, nee beneficio, nee injuria cog- 
niti. Dignitatem nostram a Vespasiano inchoatam, a Tito 
auctam, a Domitiano longius provectam, non abnuerim : 
sed inconruptam fidem professis, nee amore quisquam et 
sine odio dicendus est. Quod si vita suppeditet. Principa- 
turn D. Nervae (d) et Imperium Trajani, uberiorem secu- 
rioremque materiam, senectuti seposui : rara temporum 
felicitate, ubi sentire, quss velis, et, quae sentias, dicere 
licet. 

II. Opus adgredior opimum casibus, atrox proeliis, dis- 
cors seditionibus, ipsa etiam pace saevum. Quatuor Prin- 
cipes ferro interempti. (e) Trina bella civilia, plura exter- 
na ac plerumque permixta. (/) Prosperae in Oriente, 
adversae in Occidente res. Turbatum Illyricum : Galliae 
nutantes : perdomita Britannia (g) et statim missa : coortae 
in nos Sarmatarum ac Suevorum gentes : nobilitatus cladi- 
bus mutuis Dacus. Mota etiam prope Parthorum arma, 
falsi Neronis ludibrio. (h) Jam vero Italia novis cladibus^ 
vel post longam saeculorum seriem repetitis, adflicta. 

c Inter infensos vel obnoxios. Since every author would either 
hate those in authority, or be obnoxious to them. 

d It is evident, from this passage, that Tacitus published his his* 
lory in the reign of Trajan, since Nerva is called the Deified Nerva, 
and the apotheosis of the Emperors was always after their death. 

e The history included the whole time from the first of Galba to 
the assassination of Domitian ; and, for that reason, some of the 
commentators are of opinion that the four princes put to the sword 
are Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Domitian. Others, observing that 
the whole of Domitian's reign is lost, adapt their notions to the pre- 
sent state of our author's work, and reckon Piso, who was adopted 
by Galba, one of the four murdered princes. 

/ The three civil wars were as follows : 

i. Otho and Vitellius: 2. Vitellius and Vespasian: 3. Lucius 
Antonius and Domitian, A. U. C. 845. The foreign wars, that dis- 
tracted the empire, during the rage of civil commotions, w T ere, one 
in Judcea, and the other with Civilis, the Batavian chief. 

g Britain was finally subdued in the reign of Domitian. See th$ 
life of Agricola. It was afterwards neglected and almost lost. 

h For more of the pretended Nero, see Hist. ii. s. 8. The Par- 
tisans were on the point of declaring war in favour of another- im- 
postor, who took the name of Nero, in the reign of Titus, A. U. G-. 
334, aad afterwards in the reign of Domitian, A. U, C. 841. 



4 e. CORN. TAC1TT. a. v. c. m. 

Haustae aut obrutae urbes, (i) fecundissima Campaniae 
ora. Urbs incendiis vastata, consumptis antiquissimis delu- 
bris, ipso Capitolio (j) civium manibus incenso : pollutae 
Caerimoniae : magna adulteria : plenum exsiliis mare : in- 
fecti caedibus scopuli. (k) Atrocius in urbe sasvitum. 
Nobilitas, opes, omissi gestique honores pro crimine, et ob 
virtutes certissimum exitium. Nee minus praemia delato- 
rum invisa, quam scelera ; cum alii Sacerdotia et Consula- 
te, ut spolia, adepti, Procurationes {I) alii et interiorem 
potentiam, agerent verterent cuncta odio et terrore. Con- 
rupti in dominos servi, in patronos liberti ; et, quibus dee* 
rat inimicus, per amicos oppressi. Non tamen adeo virtu- 
tum sterile saeculum, ut non et bona exempla prodiderit. 

III. Comitatae profugos liberos matres : secutse maritos 
in exsiliaconjuges : propinqui audentes : constantes generi : 
contumax, etiam adversus tormenta, servorum fides : su- 
premae clarorum virorum necessitates; ipsa necessitas 
fortiter tolerata; et laudatis antiquorum mortibus pares 
exitus. Praeter multiplices rerum humanarum casus, cae- 
lo terraque prodigia et fulminum monitus et futurorum prae- 
sagia, laeta, tristia, ambigua, manifests. Nee enim unquam 
atrocioribus Populi Roni. cladibus, magisve justis indiciis 
adprobatum est, non esse curae Deis securitatem nostram> 
esse ultionem. (m) 

IV. Caeterum, antequam destinata componam, repeten- 
dum videtur, qualis status tirbis, quae mens exercituum, 
quis habitus provinciarum, quid in toto terrarum orbe va- 

i The cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii were destroyed by an 
eruption of Mount Vesuvius, in the beginning of the reign of Titus> 
A. U. C. 841. 

j See the conflagration of the Capitol, Hist. iii. s. 67 and 71. 

k Mare — scopuli. Islands, where they were sent by the orders 
©f Domitian, and murdered, 

.." I Collectors of the imperial revenue were instituted by the Em* 
perors, in order to entrench on the power of the proconsuls, who 
were the proper officers, in ail the provinces that remained under 
the authority of the senate. Informers were raised to the office of 
imperial procurators, and obtained weight and influence in the ca- 
binet. Adepti procurationes et interiorem potentiam. 

m Some of the commentators have objected to the sentiment ex- 
pressed by Tacitus in this place. Brotier calls it, atrox sententia. 
But what is the fair construction? It is this. The crimes of the 
Roman people were such, that they could no longer expect the pro- 
tection of the gods. They had drawn down the vengeance of 
Heaven. 



j. e. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS; 5 

lidum, quid aegrum fuerit ; ut non modo casus eventusque 
rerum, qui pierumque fortuiti sunt, sed ratio eti«m caussae- 
que noscantur. Finis Neronis ut laetus, prinio gauden- 
ttum inpetu, fnerat, ita varios motus animorum, non rrodo 
in urbe, apud Patres, aut populum, aut urbanum miiitem, 
sed omnes legiones Ducesque conciverat : evulgato Impe- 
rii arcano, (?z) posse Principem alibi, quam Romae fieri. 
Sed Patres laeti, usurpata statim libertate, licentius. ut erga 
Principem novum et absentem ; (o) primores Equitum 
proximi gaudio Patrum ; pars populi integra, et magnis do- 
mibus annexa, (j>) clientes libertique damnatorum et exsu- 
lum, in spem erecti : plebs sordida et circo ac theatris sue- 
ta, simul deterrimi servorum, aut qui, adesis bonis, per de- 
decus Neronis alebantur, msesti et rumorum avidi. 

V. Miles urbanus, (a) longo Cassarum sacramento inbu- 
tus, et ad destituendiim Neronem arte magis etinpulsu, quam 
suo ingenio, traductus, postquam neque dari donativum, sub 
nomine Galbae promissum. neque magnis meritis ac prse- 
miis eundem in pace, quern in bello, locum, praeventamque 
gratiam intelligit apud Principem, a legionibus factum ; pro- 
nus ad novas res, scelere insuper Nymphidii Sabini Prae- 
fecti, Imperium sibi molientis, agitatur. Et Nymphidius (r) 
quidem in ipso conatu oppressus : sed, quamvis capite de- 
fections ablato, manebat plerisque militum conscientia ; 
necdeerantsermones, 'senium at que avaritiam Galbae' incre- 
pantium. Laudata olim et militari fama celebrata severitas 
ejus (s) angebat adspernantes veterem disciplinam, atqueita 
XIV annis a Nerone adsuefactos, ut haud minus vitia Prin- 
cipum amarent, quam olim virtutes verebantur. Accessit 
Galbae vox, pro Republica honesta, ipsi anceps, c legi a se 
* miiitem, non emi.' 

VI. Nee enim ad hanc formam cetera erant. Invalidum 
senem T. Vinius et Cornelius Laco, alter deterrimus mor- 



n Evuigato, etc. A new political secret having been divulged ? 
that an Emperor might be made elsewhere than at Rome. 

o Galba, who had not arrived from Spain. 

p By the attachment of friendship or relationship. 

q The praetorian guards had shown themselves, at all times, firm- 
ly attached to the Caesarean family. 

r For an account of Nymphidiug, and his rash ambition, see the 
Appendix to the sixteenth book of the Annals, Mur. Tac. 

s The rigour with which Galba supported and enforced military 
4&eipline is stated by Suetonius, in Galba, s, vi> 



6 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820. 

talium, alter ignavissimus, odio flagitiorum oneratum, con- 
temptu inertiae clestruebant. Tardum Galbae iter et omen- 
tum, interfectis Cingonio Varrone, Consule designato, et 
Fetronio Turpiliano, Consulari : ille, ut Nymphidii socius, 
hie, ut dux Neronis, inauditi atque indefensi, tamquam in- 
nocentes perierant. Introitus\in urbem, trucidatis tot mil- 
libus inermium militum, (t y ) infaustus omine, atque ipsis 
etiam, qui occiderant formidolosus. Inducta legione His- 
pana, remanente ea, quam e classe Nero conscripserat, 
plena urbs exercitu insolito : multi ad hoc numeri e Germa- 
nia ac Britannia (u) et Illyrico, quos idem Nero, electos 
praemissosque ad claustra Caspiarum, (y) et bellum, quod 
in Albanos parabat, opprimendis Vindicis coeptis revoca- 
verat : ingens novis rebus materia, ut non in unum aliquem 
prono favore, ita audenti parata. 

VII. Forte congruerat, ut Ciodii Maori et Fonteii Capi- 
tonis caedes nunciarentur. Macrum, in Africa haud dubie 
turbantem, Trebonius Garucianus, Procurator, jussu Gal- 
bae ; Capitonem in Germania, cum similia coeptaret, Corne- 
lius Aquinus et Fabius Valens, Legati legionum, interfece- 
rant, antequam juberentur. Fuere qui crederent, Capito- 
nem, ut avaritia et libidine foedum ac maculosum, ita cogi- 
tatione rerum novarum abstinuisse ; sed a Legatis, bellum 
suadentibus, postquam inpellere nequiverint, crimen ac do- 
lum compositum ultro : et Galbam mobilitate ingenii, an, 
ne altius scrutaretur, quoquo modo acta, quia mutari non 
poterant, comprobasse. Ceterum utraque caedes sinistre 
accepta : et inviso semel Principe, seu beae, seu male fac- 
ta premunt. (w) Ita adferebant venalia cuncta prae-poten- 
tes liberti : servorum manus subitis avidae, et, tamquam 
apud senem, festinantes : eademque novae aulae mala, 
seque gravia, non aeque excusata. Ipsa aetas (#) Gal- 

t Nero had formed a new legion, composed of men drafted from 
the marines. See this book, s. xxxi. It is to these that Tacitus 
refers. 

u The forces from Britain and Germany, which Nero had sent 
forward on a wild expeditiop to the straits of the Caspian Sea, were 
all recalled to quell the insurrection of Vindex, in Gaul. 

v Supply p or tar •um. 

w The idea is, that the acts of princes, when the current of the 
times is set against them, are taken in gross, and, whether good or 
evil, condemned without distinction. 

x Galba, at his elevation to the imperial dignity, was seventy* 
tliree vearsold, 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 7 

bae inrisui ac fastidio erat adsuetis juventae Neronis, et Im- 
peratores forma ac decore corporis, lit est mos vulgi, corn- 
par an tib us. 

VIII. Et hie quidem Romae, tamquam in tanta multitu- 
dine, habitus animorum fuit. £ provinces. Hispaniae praee- 
rat Cluvius Rufus, vir facundus et pacis artibus, bellis in- 
expertus. (*/) Galliae, super memoriam Vindicis, obligytae 
recenti dono Romanae civitatis, et in posterum tributi leva- 
meato. Proximae tamen Germanicis exercitibus Galliarum 
civitates, non eodem honore habitae, quaedam etiam finibus 
ademptis, pari dolore commoda aliena ac suas injurias me- 
tiebantur. Germanici exercitus, quod periculosissimum 
in lands viribus, solliciti et irati, superbia recentis victo- 
riae, (z) et metu, tamquam alias partes fovissent. Tarde a 
Nerone desciverant ; nee statim pro Galba Verginius : an 
imperare voiuisset, dubium ; delatum ei a milite Imperium, 
conveniebat. Fonteium Capitonem occisum, etiam qui 
queri non poterant, tamen indignabantur. (a) Dux deerat, 
abducto Verginio, per simulat.ionem amicitiae ; quern non 
remitti, atque etiam reum esse, tamquam suum crimen ac- 
cipiebant. 

IX. Superior exercitus Legatum, Hordeonium Flaccum, 
spernebat, senecta ac debilitate pedum invalidum, sine con- 
stantia, sine auctoritate, ne quieto quidem milite, regimen ; 
adeo lurentes infirmitate retinentis ultro accendebantur. (b) 
lnferioris Germanise legiones diutius sine Consulari fuere ; 
donee, missu Galbae, A. Vitellius (c) aderat, Censoris Vi- 



y E provinciis, etc. With regard to the provinces, Spain was 
governed by Cluvius Rufus, a man distinguished by his eloquence, 
and well accomplished in the arts of peace, but of no reputation in 
war. 

z The German armies obtained a complete victory over Vindex 
at Vesontium. 

a Even those, who could not deny the justice of the measure in 
putting Fonteius Capito to death, exclaimed against it with indig- 
nation, 

b Ne quielc, etc. Unequal to the command even in quiet times, 
he was now, in a camp full of bold and turbulent spirits, unable to 
support his authority. 

c This was Vitellius, whom in the sequel we shall see emperor of 
Rome. Galba sent him to command on the Lower Rhine, while 
Hordeonius Flaccus, a man in years, and greatly afflicted with the 
gout, was likely to remain inactive in the province of Upper Gei*- 



B C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820. 

tellii ac ter Consulis filius : id satis videbatur. (d) In Bri- 
tannico exercitu nihil irarum. Non sane aliae legiones, per 
omnes civilium bellorum motus, innocentius egerunt : sen, 
quia procul et Oceano divisae ; seu crebris expeditionibus 
doctse hostem potias ©disse. (c^uies et Illyrico ; quamquam 
excitae a Nerone legiones, dum in Italia cunctantur, Ver- 
ginium legationibus adissent. Sed longis spatiis discreti 
exercitus, quod saluberrimum est ad continendam militarem 
fidem, nee vitiis, nee viribus miscebantur. 

X. Oriens adhuc inmotus. Syriam et quatuor legiones 
obtinebat Licinius Mucianus, vir secundis adversisque juxta 
famosus. Insignes amicitias juvenis ambitiose coluerat : 
mox, adtritis opibus, lubrico statu, suspecta etiam Claudii 
iracundia, in secretum Asiae repositus, tarn prope ab exsule 
fuit, quam postea a Principe. Luxuria, industria, comitate, 
adrogantia, malis bonisque artibus mixtus : nimiae voluptates, 
cum vacaret ; quoties expedierat, (e) magnae virtutes : pa- 
lam laudes ; secreta male audiebant. Sed apud subjectos, 
apud proximos, apud conlegas, variis inlecebris potens ; et 
cui expeditius fuerit tradere imperium, quam oblinere. 
Bellum Judaicum Flavius Vespasianus, Ducem eum Nero 
delegerat, tribus legionibus administrabat. Nee Vespasia- 
no adversus Galbam votum aut animus. Quippe Titum, 
filium, ad venerationem cultumque ejus miserat, ut suo loco 
memorabimus Occulta lege fati et ostentis ac responsis 
destinatum Vespasiano liberisque ejus Imperium, post for- 
tunam (/) credidimus. 

XI. iEgyptum copiasque, quibus coerceretur, jam inde 
a D. Augusto, Equites Romani obtinent loco Regum. (g) 
Ita visum expedire, provineiam aditu difficilem, annonae fe- 
cundam, superstitione ac lascivia discordem ac mobilem, 
insciam legum, ignaram Magistratuum, domi retinere. (h) 

d The short reflection of Tacitus on the appointment of Vitellius 
is understood differently by the commentators. According to some, 
the true reading is, Id satis videbatur. That was thought sufficient ; 
according to others, Idfatis videbatur. The fates ordained it. 

e Expedierat. He was engaged in war. In which sense the 
same verb is used in s. 88. 

/ Post for tunam. After he obtained the sovereign authority. 

g Loce regum. In the place, or with the authority of the ancient 
Egyptian Kings. 

h Domi retinere. To reserve the administration for his own ca- 
binet council. It was the policy of Augustus to keep the manage- 
ment ©f Egypt, the great corn-market of Rome, in his own hands. 



*. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. b 

Regebat turn Tiberius Alexander, ejusdenVnationis. Africa 
ac legiones in ea, interfecto Clodio Macro, contenta quali- 
cumque Principe, post experimentum domini minoris. 
Duae Mauretaniae, Rhaetia, Noricum, Thracia, (i) et quae 
aliae Procuratoribus cohibentur, ut cuique exercitui vicinae, 
ita in favorem aut odium contactu valentiorum agebantur. 
Inermes provinciae, atque ipsa in primis Italia, cuicumque 
servitio exposita, in pretium belli cessurae erant. Hie fuit 
re rum Roinanarum status, cum Ser. Galba iterum, Titus 
Vinius, Consules, inchoavere annum, sibi ultimum, Reip. 
prope supremum. 

XII. Paucis post Kal. Januarias diebus Pompeii Propin 
qui, Procuratoris, eBelgica (j) litterae adferuntur ; ' supe- 

• rioris Germanise legiones, rupta sacramenti reverentia, 

• Imperatorem alium flagitare, et Senatui ac Pop. Rom. ar- 

• bitrium eligendi permittere f quo seditio mollius accipe- 
retur. Maturavit ea res consilium Galbae, jam pridem de 
adoptione secum et cum proximis agitantis. Non sane cre- 
brior tota civitate sermo per illos menses fuerat : primum 
lieentia ac libidine talia loquendi, dein fessa jam aetate Gal- 
bae. Paucis judicium aut Reip. amor : multi occulta spe, 
prout quis amicus vel cliens, hunc vel ilium ambitiosis ru- 
moribus destinabant, etiam in T. Vinii odium, qui in dies 
quanto potentior, eodem actu invisior erat. Quippe hian- 
tes, in magna fortuna, amicorum cupiditates ipsa Galbae fa- 
cilitas intendebat : cum apud infirmum et credulum minore 
metu et majore praemio peccaretur. 

XIII. Potentia Principatus divisa in T. Vinium, Consu- 

i Mauritania, a large region of Africa, extending from east to 
west along the Mediterranean, divided by the Emperor Claudius 
into, Ccesariensis, the eastern part, and Tingitana, the western. It 
had Numidia to the east, and Getulfa to the south, and was also 
bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Straits of Gibralter and the 
Mediterranean to the north. Now called Barbary. Rhaetia, 
bounded by the Rhine to the west, the Alps to the east, by Italy to 
the south, and Vindelicia to the north. Now the country of the 
Grisons. Noricum, a Roman province, bounded by the Danube on 
the north, by the Alpes Noricce on the south, by Pannonia on the east 
and Vindelicia on the west; now containing a great part of Austria, 
Tyrol, Bavaria, &c. Thracia, an extensive region, bounded to the 
north by mount Haemus, to the south by the iEgean sea, and by the 
Euxine and Propontis to the east. 

j Belgic Gaul began from the Scheldt and extended to the river 
Seine. The revolt of the legions on the Upper Rhine is related by 
Suetonius, in Galba, s. 16. 

3 



10 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820, 

lem, et Cornelium Laconem, Praetorii Praefectum. Nee 
minor gratia Icelo, Galbae liberto, quern annuiis donatum, (k) 
Equestri nomine ' Martianum' vocitabant. Hi discordes, et 
rebus minoribus sibi quisque tendentes, circa consilium eli- 
gendi successoris in duas factiones scindebantur. Vinius 
pro M. Othone : Laco atque Icelus consensu non tarn unum 
aliquem fovebant, quam alium. Neque erat Galbae ignota 
Othonis ac T. Vinii amicitia ; et rumoribus nihil silentio 
transmittentium, (quia Vinio vidua filia, cselebs Otho) gener 
ac socer destinabantur,. Credo et Reip. curam subisse, 
frustra a Nerone translatae, si apud Othonem relinqueretur. 
Namque Otho pueritiam incuriose. adolescentiam petulan- 
ter egerat ; gratus Neroni aemulatione luxus : eoque jam 
Poppaeam Sabinam, principale scortum, ut apud conscium 
libidinum deposuerat, donee Octaviam uxorem amoliretur : 
mox suspectumin eademPoppaea inprovinciamLusitaniam, 
specie legationis, seposuit. Otho, comiter administrata 
provincia, primus in partes transgressus, nee segnis, et, do- 
nee bellum fuit, inter preesentes splendidissimus, spem 
adoptionis, statim conceptam, acrius in dies rapiebat : fa- 
ventibus plerisque militum, prona in eum aula Neronis, ut 
similem. 

XIV. Sed Galba, post nuncios Germanicae seditionis, 
quamquam nihil adhuc de Vitellio certum, anxius quonam 
exercituum vis erumperet, ne urbano quidem militi confi- 
sus, quod remedium unicum rebatur, comitia imperii transi- 
git : adhibitoque, super Vinium ac Laconem, Mario Celso, 
Consule designate, ac Ducennio Gemino, Praefecto urbis, 
pauca praefatus ' de sua senectute, Pisonem Licinianum ar- 
c cessi' jubet ; seu propria electione, sive, ut quidam cre- 
diderunt, Lacone instante, cui apud Rubellium Plautum ex- 
ercita cum Pisone amicitia : sed caliide, ut ignotum, fove- 
bat ; et prospera de Pisone fama consilio ejus fidem addide- 
rat. Piso, M. Crasso et Scribonia genitus, nobilis utrim- 
que, vultu habituque moris antiqui, et aestimatione recta se- 
verus, deterius interpretantibus tristior habebatur : ea pars 
morum ejus, quo suspectior sollicitis, adoptanti placebat. 

XV. Igitur Galba, adprehensa Pisonis manu, in hunc 



k Annuiis donatum. One of the badges of the Roman Knights 
was a golden ring ; hence annulo aureo donari signified to be elect- 
ed a knight, and annuiis donatum is here used by Tacitus with the 
eauae signification . 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 11 

modum locutus fertur : ' Si te private lege curiata (/) apud 
1 Pontifices, utmoris est, adoptarem, etmihi egregium erat, 
4 Cn. Pompeii et M. Crassi subolem in Penates meos ad- 
4 sciscere, et tibi insigne, Sulpiciae ac Lutatiae (m) decora 
4 nobilitati tuas adjecisse. Nunc me, Deorum hominumque 
k consensu ad Imperium vocatum, praeclara indoles tua et 
1 amor patriae inpulit, ut Principatum, de quo majores nos- 
tri armis certabant, bello adeptus, quiescenti oiferam, ex- 
emplo D. Augusti, qui sororis filium, Marcellum, dein ge- 
nerum, Agrippam, mox nepotes suos, postremo Tiberium 
Neronem, privignum, in proximo sibi fastigio conlocavit, 
4 Sed Augustus in domo successorem quassivit ; ego, in Re- 
1 publica : non, quia propinquos aut socios belli non habe- 
4 am ; sed neque ipse Imperium ambitione accepi : et judi- 
4 cii mei documentum sint non meae tantum necessitudines, 
4 quas tibi postposui, sed et tuae. Est tibi frater pari nobi* 

- litate, natu major, dignus hac fortuna, nisi tu potior esses. 
4 Ea aetas tua, quse cupiditates adolescentise jam effugerit ; 
*■ ea vita, in qua nihil praeteritum excusandum habeas, 

* Eortunam adhuc tantum adversam tulisti ; (n) secundas 

* res acrioribus stimulis animos explorant, quia miseriae to- 

* lerantur, felicitate conrumpimur. Fidem, libertatem, 
4 amicitiam, praecipua humani animi bona, tu quidem eadem 
; constantia retinebis : sed alii per obsequium inminuent. 

* Inrumpet adulatio, blanditiae, pessimum veri adfectus ve- 
4 nenum, sua cuique utilitas. Ego, ac tu, simplicissime in- 
4 ter nos hodie loquimur : ceteri libentius cum fortuna nos- 

* tra, quam nobiscum. Nam suadere principi, quod opor- 

* teat, multi laboris : adsentatio erga Principem quemcum- 

- que sine adfectu peragitur. 

XVI. '• Etiam, si inmensum Imperii corpus stare ac li- 

* brari sine rectore posset, dignus eram, a quo Resp. incipe- 
4 ret : nunc eo necessitatis jam pridem ventum est, ut nee 
L mea senectus conferre plus Populo Rom. possit, quam bo- 
4 num successorem, nee tua plus inventa, quam bonum 
e Principem. Sub Tiberio et Caio et Claudio unius fami- 

I Romulus divided the citizens of Rome into thirty curice, and from 
that circumstance, the Lex Curiata took its name. The laws 
were enacted by the people assembled in their several curiae. 

m Sulpiciceac Lutatuz. The v, r ovd gentis is understood. 

n Piso's father, mother and brother were put to death by Clau- 
dius, Another brother (the conspiracy against Nero being detect- 
ad) opened his veins and bled to deaiti 



12 C. CORN. TAClTl. ±. v. c. 820. 

? liae quasi hereditas fuimus : loco libertatis erit, quod eligi 
; coepimus. Et, finita Juliorum Claudiorumque domo, op- 
ft timum quemque adoptio inveniet. Nam generari et nasci 
4 a Principibus, fortuitum, nee ultra aestimatur : adoptandi 
'judicium integrum; et, si velis eligere, consensu mon- 

* stratur. (o) Sit ante oculos Nero, quem, longa Caesarum 
i serie tumentem, non Vindex cum inermi provincia, aut 

* ego cum una legione, sed sua inmanitas, sua luxuria, cer- 

* vicibus publicis depulere : neque erat adhuc damnati 

* Principis exemplum. (p) Nos bello et ab aestimantibus 
' adsciti, cum invidia, quamvis egregii, erimus. Ne tamen 
4 territus fueris, si duse legiones in hoc concussi orbis motu 
6 nondum quiescunt. Ne ipse quidem ad securas res ac- 
: cessi : et, audita adoptione, desinam videri senex ; quod 
; nunc mihi unum objicitur. Nero a pessimo quoque sem- 
f per desiderabitur : mihi ac tibi providendum est, ne etiam 
i a bonis desideretur. Monere diutius, neque temporis 
1 hujus ; et inpletum est omne consilium, si te bene elegi. 

* Utilissimusque idem ac brevissimus bonarum malarumque 

* rerum delectus est, cogitare, quid aut volueris sub alio 
' Principe, aut nolueris. Neque enim hie, ut in ceteris 
' gentibus, quae regnantur, certa dominorum domus, et ce- 
4 teri servi : sed imperaturus es hominibus, qui nee totam 
' servitutem pati possunt, nee totam libertatem.' Et Galba 
quidem haec ac talia, tamquam Principem faceret ; cetefi 
tamquam cum facto loquebantur. 

XVIL Pisonem, ferunt, statim intuentibus, et mox con- 
jectis in eum omnium oculis, nullum turbati aut exsultanti& 
animi motum prodidisse. Sermo erga patrem Imperato- 
remque reverens, de se moderatus ; nihil in vultu habitu- 
que mutatum : quasi imperare posset magis, quam vellet. 
Consultatum inde, ' pro rostris, an in Senatu, an in castris 

* adoptio nuncuparetur. Iri m castra,' placuit : * honori- 
; ficum id militibus fore, quorum favorem, ut largitione et 
i ambitu male adquiri, ita per bonas artes haud spernen- 
i dum.' Circumsteterat interim palatium publica exspec- 

o Adoptandi) etc. Marphy translates this sentence ; The method 
of adoption allows time to deliberate, and the public voice will serve 
as a guide to direct the judgment of the Emperor. 

p Nero was condemned by the Senate to be dragged through the 
streets of Rome, and whipped to death. He prevented the exe- 
cution of this sentence by a voluntary death c He killed himself A > 
D. 68, 



£ c. 67, HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. %s 

tatio, magni secreti inpatiens : et male coercitam famam sup- 
primentes augebant. (q) 

XVIII. Quartum Idus Januarias, foedum imbribus diem,, 
tonitrua et fulgura et caelestes minae ultra solitum turbave- 
rant. Observatum k\ antiquitus comitiis dirimendis (r) non 
terruit Galbam, quo minus in castra pergeret, contemptorem 
talium, ut fortuitorum ; seu, quae fato manent, quamvis sig- 
nificata, non vitantur. Apud frequentem militum concionem, 
Imperatoria brevitate, ' adoptari a se Pisonem, more D. Au- 
gusti et exemplo militari, quo vir virum iegeret,' (s) pro« 
nuntiat. Ac ne dissimulata seditio in majus crederetur, 
ultro adseverat, l quartam et duodevicesimam legiones, pau- 
4 cis seditionis auctoribus, non ultra verba ac voces errasse, 
' et brevi in officio fore.' Nee ullum orationi aut lenoci- 
nium addit aut pretium. Tribuni tamen Genturionesque et 
proximi militum grata auditu respondent : per ceteros 
maestitia ac silentium, tamquam usurpatam etiam in pace do- 
nativi necessitatem bello perdidissent. Constat, potuisse 
conciliari animos quantulacumque parci senis liberalitate : 
nocuit antiquus rigor et nimia severitas ; cui jam pares non 
sumus. 

XIX. Inde apud Senatum non comptior Galbae, non Ion- 
gior, quam apud militem sermo : Pisonis comis oratio. Et 
Patrum favor aclerat ; multi voluntate effusius ; qui nolue- 
rant, medie ; ac plurimi obvio obsequio, privatas spes agi- 
tantes, sine publica cura. Nee aliud sequenti quatriduo 
'quod medium inter adoptionem et caedem fuit) dictum a 
Pisone in publico factumve. Crebrioribus in dies Germa- 
nicas defectionis nuntiis, et facili civitate ad accipienda cre- 
dendaque omnia nova, cum tristia sunt, censuerant Patres, 
mittendos ad Germanicum exercitum legatos : agitatum se- 
creto* num et Piso proficisceretur, majore praetextu ; illi 



q Circumsteterat, etc, Meanwhile, the populace, rushing from 
-every quarter, surrounded the palace, impatient for the important 
news, and growing more eager in proportion to the delay of the po- 
liticians, who affected an air of mystery, when the secret had al- 
ready transpired. 

r Thunder and lightning was always considered by the Romans 
as a warning noUo transact public business. 

s According to a military custom established in an early period 
of the rommonwealth, every Roman soldier chose his favourite com- 
rade, and by that tie of friendship, all were mutually bound to share 
every danger with their fellows. 



U €. CORN. TACITI. a. u. g. 82fr 

auctoritatem Senatus, hie dignationem Caesaris laturus. 
Placebat et Laconem, Prsetorii Praefectum, siniul mittw Is 
consilio intercessit. Legati quoque (nam Senatus electio- 
oem Galbae permiserat) foeda inconstantia nominati, excusa- 
ti, substituti, ambitu remanendi aut eundi, ut quemque me- 
tus vel spes inpulerat. 

XX. Proxima pecuniae cura : et cuncta scrutantibus jus- 
tissimum visum est, inde repeti, unde inopiae caussa erat* 
Bis et vicies millies sestertium donationibus Nero effuderaL 
Adpellari singulos jussit, decuma parte liberalitatis apud 
quemque eorum relicta. At illis vix decumae super por- 
tiones erant, iisdem erga aliena sumptibus, quibus sua pro- 
degefant ; cum rapacissimo cuique ac perditissimo non agri,. 
aut fenus, sed sola instrumenta vitiorum manerent. Ex- 
actioni XXX Equites Romani praepositi ; novum officii ge- 
nus, et ambitu ac numero onerosum : ubique hasta (t) et sec* 
tor ; et inquieta urbs auctionibus. Attamen grande gau- 
dium, quod tam pauperes forent, quibus donasset Nero^ 
quam quibus abstulisset. Exauctorati per eos dies Tribuni* 
e Praetorio Antonius Taurus et Antonius Naso ; ex urbanis 
cohortibus iEmilius Pacensis ; e vigiliis Julius Fronto* 
Nee remedium in ceteros fuit,sed metus initium : tamquam 
per artem et formidinem singuli pellerentur* omnibus sus= 
pectis. 

XXL Interea Gthonem, cui, compositis rebus, nulla spes 5 
omne in turbido consilium, multa simul exstimulabant i 
luxuria etiam Principi (u) onerosa : inopia vix privato tole- 
xanda, in Galbam ira, in Pisonem invidia. Fingebat et me- 
tum, quo magis concupisceret. ' Praegravem se Neroni 
4 fuisse : nee Lusitaniam rursus^ et alterius exsilii honorem 
* exspectandum : suspectum semper invisumque dominanti- 
1 bus, qui proximus de&tinaretur. Nocuisse id sibi apud se- 
i nem Principem : magis nociturum apud juvenem, ingenio* 
1 trucem, et longo exsilio efferatum. Occidi Othonem posse. 
' Proinde agendum audendumque, dum Galbae auctoritas 
- fluxa, Pisonis nondum coaluisset. Opportunos magnis. 



i Ubique hasta. There were auctions every where. A spea¥ 
iixedin the earth was the auctioneer's sign. 

u Etiam Principi. Although he had been a Prinee, Otho did 
not scruple to say, that nothing short of the imperial power could 
save him from utter ruin ; and whether he died i» battle, or fell a 
victim to his creditors, was immaterial. 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 15 

■ conatibus transitus rerum : (y) nee cunctatione opus, ubi 
6 perniciosior sit quies, quam temeritas. Mortem omnibus 
4 ex natura aequalem, oblivione apud posteros vel gloria dis= 
' tingui. Ac, si nocentem innocentemque idem exitus ma- 
! neat, acrioris viri esse, merito perire. 5 

XXIL Non erat Othonis mollis et corpori similis animus. 
Et intimi libertorum servorumque, corruptius quam in pri- 
vatadomo habiti, aulam Neronis et Ihxus, adulteria, matrix 
monia, ceterasque Regnorum libidines, avido talium, si au- 
deret, ut sua ostentantes ; quiescenti, ut aliena, exprobra- 
bant : urgentibus etiam mathematicis, dum ' novos motus, 

* et clarum Othoni annum, observatione siderum, 5 adfir« 
msnt : genus hominum potentibus infidum, sperantibus fal- 
lax, quod in civitate nostra et vetabitur semper, et retine- 
bitur Multos secreta Poppaeae mathematicos, (w) pessi- 
mum Principalis matrimonii instrumentum, habuerant : e 
quibus Ptolemaeus, Otboni in Hispania comes, cum ' super- 

* futurum eum Neroni 5 promisisset, postquam ex eventu 
fides, conjectura jam et rumore senium Galbae et juventam 
Othonis coraputantium, persuaserat, ' fore, ut in Imperium 

■ adscisceretur.' Sed Otho tamquam peritia et monitu fato= 
rum praedicta accipiebat, cupidine ingenii humani libentius 
obscura credendi. Nee deerat Ptolemaeus, jam et scelerit 
instinctor, ad quod facillime ab ejusmodi veto transitur. 

XXIII. Sed sceleris cogitatio incertum an repens : studia 
militum jam pridem, spe successionis, aut paratu facinoris, 
adfectaverat ; in itinere, in agmine, in stationibus, retus- 
tissimum quemque militum nomine vocans, ac^memoria Ne- 
roniani comitatus, ' contubernales' adpellando : alios ag- 
noscere,quosdamrequirere et pecunia aut gratia juvare : in- 
serendo saepius querelas et ambiguos de Galba sermones, 
quseque alia turbamenta vulgi. Labores itinerum, inopia 
eommeatuum, duritia imperii, atrocius accipiebantur, cum^ 
Campaniae lacus et Achaias urbes classibus adire soliti, Py- 
renaeum et Alpes et inmensa viarum spatia aegre sub armis 
eniterentur. (#) 

v Opportunos, ele. The convulsions of States afford the true 
season for courage and vigorous enterprise. 

%c Mathematicos . Judicial astrologers. 

x Campania was a territory of Italy, bounded on the west by the 
Tuscan sea; now called Terra di Lavoro. Achaia, often taken for 
part of Peloponnesus, but in Tacitus generally for all Greece, Pz= 
renmum, a long range of mountains separating: Gaul from Spain > 



16 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 820. 

XXIV. Flagrantibus jam militum animis velut faces addi- 
deratMamus Pudens, e proximis Tigellini : ismobilissimum 
quemque ingenio, ant pecuniae indigum, etin novas cupi- 
ditates praecipitem adliciendo, eo paullatim progressus est, 
ut per speciem convivii, \y) quotiens Galba apud Othonem 
epularetur, cohorti excubias agenti viritimcentenos nummos 
divideret : quam velut publicam largitionem Otho secretio- 
ribus apud singulos praemiis intendebat; adeo animosus 
corrupter, ut Cocceio Proculo, speculatori, (z) de parte 
finium cum vicino ambigenti, universum vicini agrum, sua 
pecunia emptum, dono dederit, per socordiam Praefecti, 
quern nota pariter et occulta fallebant. 

XXV. Sed turn e libertis Onomastum futuro sceleri 
praefecit, a quo Barbium Proculum, Tesserarium (a) spe- 
culatorum, et Veturium, Optionem eorundem, perductos, 
postquam vario sermone callidos audacesque cognovit, pre- 
tio et permissis onerat, data pecunia ad pertentandos plu- 
rium animos. Suscepere duo manipulares Imperium Pop. 
Rom. trans ferendum ; et transtulerunt. In conscientiam 
facinoris pauci adsciti : suspensos ceterorum animos diversis 
artibus stimulant : primores militum, per beneficia Nym- 
phidii ut suspectos : vulgus et ceteros, ira et desperatione> 
dilati totiens donativi : erant, quos memoria Neronis ac de* 
siderium prioris licentiae accenderet : in commune omnes 
rnetu mutandse militiae terrebantur. 

XXVI. Infecit ea tabes legionum quoque et auxilioruttu 
motasjam mentes, postquam vulgatum erat, ' labareGerma- 
nici exercitus fidem.' Adeoque parata apud malos seditio r 
etiam apud integros dissimulatio fuit, ut postero Iduum die 
redeuntem a ccena Othonem rupturi fuerint, nisi incerta 
noctis, et tota urbe sparsa militum castra, nee facilem inter 
temulentos consensum, timuissent : non Reipublica? cura, 
qilam foedare Principis sui sanguine sobrii parabant ; sed 
ne per tenebras, ut quisque Pannonici vel Germanici exer- 
citus militibus adlatus esset, ignorantibus plerisque, pro 



Mpes, or the Alps, are a range of high mountains separating- Italy 
from Gaul and Germany. They are called Alps from Alp tn r a 
Celtic term for high mountains. 

y Per speciem convivii. Under colour of an allowance for their 
convivial party. 

% Speculatori. A soldier of the body-guard.. 

a Tesserarium. One, whose duty it was to bear the watch-word 
to the night guard. 



j. c. 67. HlSTOR. LIB. PRIMUS, 17 

Othone destinaretur. Multa erumpentis seditionis indicia 
per conscios oppressa : quaedam apud Galbae aures Prae- 
fectus Laco elusit, ignarus militariumanimorum, consiliique 
quamvis egregii, quod non ipse adferret, inimicus, et adver- 
sue peritos pervicax. 

XXVII. Octavodecimo Kal. Febr. sacrificanti pro aede 
Apollinis Galbae Haruspex Umbricius i tristia exta etinstantes 

* insidias ac domesticum hostem'praedicit ; audiente Othone 
(nam proximus adstiterat) idque, ut laetuin e contrario, et 
suis cogitationibus prosperum, interpretante. Nee multo 
postlibertus Onomastus nuntiat, ' exspectari eum ab archi- 

* tecto et redemptoribus :' quae significatio coeuntium jam 
militum et paratae conjurationis convenerat. Otho, ( caus- 

* sam digressus' requirentibus, cum, s emi sibi proedia ve- 
' tustate suspecta, eoque prius exploranda,' finxisset, in- 
nixus liberto, per Tiberianam domum, in Velabrum, inde 
ad Milliarium aureum, (b) sub aedem Saturni^pergit. Ibi 
tres et viginti speculatores consalutatum k Imperatorem,' 
ac paucitate salutantium trepidum, et sellae festinanter in- 
positum, strictis mucronibus rapiunt. Totidem ferme mi- 
lites in itinere adgregantur : alii conscientia, plerique mira- 
culo ; pars clamore et gaudio, (c) pars gilentio, animum ex 
eventu sumpturi. 

XXVIII. Stationem in castris agebat Julius Martialis 
Tribunus. Is, magnitudine subiti sceleris, an conrupta la- 
tius castra, ac, si contra tenderet, exitium metuens, praebuit 
plerisque suspicionem conscientiae. Anteposuere ceteri 
quoque Tribuni Centurionesque praesentia dubiis et hones- 
tis. Isque habitus animorum fait, ut pessimum facinus au- 
derent pauci, plures vellent, omnes paterentur. 

XXIX. Ignarus interim Galba et sacris intentus, fatigabat 
alieni jam imperii Deos : cum adfertur rumor, * rapi in 
4 castra, incertum quem Senatorem :' mox, ' Othonem 

* esse, qui raperetur :' simul ex tota urbe, ut quisque obvi- 
us fuerat, alii formidinem augentes, quidam minora vero, 
ne turn quidem obliti adulationis. Igitur consultantibus pla- 
cuit, ■ pertentari animum cohortis, quae in palatio stationem 

b Milliarium aureum. The golden mile-pillar, erected by Augus- 
tus at the head of the Roman Forum, to which all the great roads 
through Italy converged, and from which the distance was calculat- 
ed and indicated on similar pillars erected on most of the important 
roads. 

c Gaudio. Some commentators prefer gladiis. 



8(P C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 320. 

agebai: nee per ipsum Galbam ; cujus integra auctoritas 

* majoribus remediis servabatur.' Piso pro gradibus do- 
mus vocatos in hunc modum adlocutus est : ' Sextus dies 
' agitur, commilitones, ex quo, ignarus futuri, et sive op- 
' tandum hoc nomen, sive timendum erat, Caesar adscitus 
6 sum. Quo domus nostras aut Reipublicae fatum in vestra 

manu positum est ; non, quia meo nomine tristiorem ca- 

sum paveam, (ut qui, adversas res expertus, cum maxime 

discam, ne secundas quidem minus discriminis habere;) 

patris, (cZ) et Senatus, et ipsius Imperii vicem doleo, si no- 

' bis aut perire hodie necesse est, aut, quod aeque apudbo- 

' nos miserum est, occidere. Solatium proximi motus ha- 

' bebamus incruentam urbem, et res sine discordia transla- 

8 tas. Pro visum adoptione videbatur, ut ne post Galbam 

* quidem bello locus esset. 

XXX. ' Nihil arrogabo mihi nobilitatis aut modestiae : ne-. 

* que enim relatu virtutum in comparatione Othonis opus 

* est. Vitia, quibus solis gloriatur, evertere Imperium, 

* etiam cum amicum Imperatoris ageret. (c) Habitune et 
c incessu, an illo muliebri ornatu (/) mereretur Imperium ? 

* Falluntur, quibus luxuria specie liberalitatis inponit. 
' Perdere iste sciet, donare nesciet. Stupra nunc et com- 

* missationes et feminarum ccetus volvit animo : haec Prin- 
4 cipatus pyaemia putat ; quorum libido ac voluptas penes 
4 ipsum sit, rubor ac dedecus penes omnes. Nemo enim 

* unquam Imperium, flagitio quaesitum, bonis artibus exer- 
1 cuit. Galbam consensus generis humani, me Galba, con- 

* sentientibus vobis, Caesarem dixit. Si Respublica et Sena- 
w tus et Populus vana nomina sunt : vestra, commilitones, 
4 interest, ne Imperatorem pessimi faciant. Legionum se- 
c ditio adversum Duces suos audita est aliquando : vestra 

* fides famaque inlaesa ad hunc diem mansit : etNero quoque 

* vos destituit, non vos Neronem. Minus triginta transfugae 
i |t desertores, quos Centurionem aut Tribunum sibi eli- 
■ gentes nemo ferret, Imperium adsignabunt ? Admittitis 
4 exemplum ? et quiescendo commune crimen facitis ? 
4 Transcendet haec licentia in provincias : et ad nos scele- 
; rum exitus, bellorum ad vos, pertinebunt. Nee est plus$ 

d Patris. Galba, who was his adopted father. 
e Imperatoris. Nero. 

/ See Juvenal's description of Otbo's effeminacy, and his looking- 
glass. Sat. ii. ver. 99. 



j. c. 67. HISTORt LIB. PRIMUS. 19 

' quod pro caede Principis, quam quod innocentibus datur : 
4 (g) seel perinde a nobis donativum ob ndem, quam ab aliis 
■ pro facinore accipietis.' 

XXXI. Dilapsis speculatoribus, (h) cetera cohors, non 
adspernata concionantem, ut turbidis rebus evenit, forte 
magis et nullo adhuc consilio, parat signa, quam, quod pos- 
tea creditum est, insidiis et simulatione. Missus et Celsus 
Marius ad electos Illyrici exercitus, Vipsania (i) in porticu 
tendeutes. Praeceptum Amulio Sereno et Domitio Sabino, 
primipilaribus, ' ut Germanicos milites e Libertatis atrio 
1 arcesserent.' Legioni cla'sicae diffidebatur, infestae ob 
caedem commilitonum, quos primo statim introitu trucida- 
verat Galba. Pergunt etiam in castra Praetorianorum Tri- 
buni, Cerius Severus, Subrius Dexter, Pompeius Longinus; 
si incipiens adhuc. et necdum adulta seditio, melioribus con- 
siliis flecteretur. Tribunorum Subrium et Cerium milites 
adorti minis, Longinum manibus coercent exarmantque, 
quia non ordine militias, (j) sed e Galbae amicis, fidus 
Principi suo, et desciscentibus suspectior erat. Legio clas- 
sica, nihil cunctata, Praetorianis adjungitur. Illyrici eser- 
citus electi Celsumingestis pilis proturbant,Germanica vex- 
ill a diu nutavere ; invalidis adhuc corporibus et placatis 
animis, quod eos, a Nerone Alexandrian! praemissos, atque 
inde rursus longa navigatione aegros, inpensiore cura Galba 
refovebat. 

XXX I L Universa jam plebs palatinm inplebat, mixtis 
servitiis,, et dissono clamore, ' caedem Othonis et conjurato- 
£ rum exitium,' poscentium, ut si in circo ac tbeatro ludi- 
crum aliquod postularent : neque iUis indicium atit Veritas.: 
quippe eodem die diversa pari certamine postulaturis : sed 
tradito more, quemcumque Principem adulandi, Iicentia ad- 
clamationum et studiis inanibus. Interim Galbem duae sen- 
tentiae distinebant ; T. Vinius, ' manendum intra do mum, 



g A"ec est plus, etc. By murdering 'your Prince, you may earn the 
wages of iniquity ; but the reward of virtue will not be less. 

h D ilap sis speculatoribus . i. e. those who before had been bribed 
by Otho. 

i A portico built by Vipsanius Agripua in the field of Mar*. See 
Hor. Book 1. ep. 6. Illvricum, the country between Pannoria, t# 
the north, and the Adriatic to the south. It is now comprised by 
Dalmaiia and Sclavonia. 

j Non ordine militia. Promoted out of his turn. 



20 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820. 

* opponenda servitia, firmandos aditus, non eundum ad ira- 

* tos' censebat : ' daret malorum poenitentiae, daret bono- 

* rum consensui spatium : scelera inpetu, bona consilia mo- 
4 ra valescere. Denique eundi ultro, si ratio sit, eandem 
'• mox facultatem : regressus, sipoeniteat, in alienapotestate. 

XXXIII. ' Festinandum' ceteris videbatur, * antequam 
1 cresceret invalida adhuc conjuratio paucorum. Trepida- 

* turum etiam Othonem, qui furtim digressus, ad ignaros in- 

* latus, cunctatione nunc et segnitia terentium tempus imi- 
4 tari Principem discat. Non exspectandum, ut, composi- 
4 tis castris, forum invadat et,*prospectante Galba, capitoli- 
1 um adeat : dum egregius Imperator, cum fortibus amicis, 

* janua ac limine tenus domum cludit, obsidionem nimirum 

* toleraturus, Et praeclarum in servis auxilium, si consen- 

* sus tantae multitudinis, et, quae plurimura valet, prima in* 

* dignatio elanguescat. Proinde intuta, quaeindecora : vel, 
4 si cadere necesse sit, occurreadum discrimini. Id Othoni 

* invidiosius, et ipsis honestum.' Repugnantem huic sen- 
tential Vinium Laco minaciter invasit, stimulante Icelo* 
privati odii pertinacia, in publicum exitium. 

XXXIV. Nee diutius Galba cunctatus, speciosiora sua- 
dentibus accessit. Praemissus tamen in castra Piso, ut ju- 
venis magno nomine, recenti favore, et infensus T. Vinio 
seu quia erat, seu quia irati ita volebant ; et facilius de odio 
creditur. Vix dum egresso Pisone, occisum in castris Otho 
nem, yagus primum et incertus rumor : mox, ut in magnis 
mendaciis, interfuisse se quidam et vidisse, adfirmabant, 
credula fama inter gaudentes et incuriosos. Multi arbitra- 
bantur, compositum auctumque rumorem, mixtisjam Otho- 
nianis, qui ad evocandum Galbam laeta falso vulgaverint. 

XXXV. Turn vero non populus tantum et imperita plebs 
in plausus et inmodica studia, sed Equitum plerique ac Se- 
natorum, posito metu incauti, refractis palatii foribus, ruere 
intus, ac se Galbae ostentare, praereptam sibi ultionem que- 
rentes. Ignavissimus quisque et, ut res docuit, in periculo 
non ausurus, nimii verbis, linguae feroces : nemo scire, et 
omnes adfirmare : donee inopia veri, et consensu errantium 
victus,sumpto thorace,Galba,inruentiturbae,neque aetate,ne- 
que corpore sistens, sella levaretur. Obvius in palatio Julius 
Atticus, speculator, cruentum gladium ostentans, * occisum 

* a se Othonem,' exclamavit: et Galba, * Commilito,' in- 



J. c. 67. KISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 21 

quit, ' quis jussit ?' (k) insigni animo ad coercendara mili- 
tarem licentiam, minantibus intrepidus. adversus blandien- 
■es inconruptus. 

XXXVI. Haud dubiae jam in castris omnium mentes : 
tantusque ardor, ut, non contenti agmine et corporibus, in 
suggestu,in quo paullo ante aurea Gaibss statua (7) fuerat, 
medium inter signa Othonem vexillis circumdarent. Nee 
Tribunis aut Centurionibus adeundi locus : gregarius miles 
caveri insuper praspositos jubebat. Strepere cuncta clamo- 
ribus et turnultu et exhortatione mutua, non tamquam in po- 
pulo ac plebe, variis segni adulatione vocibus, sed, ut quern- 
que adfluentium militum adspexerant, prensare manibus, 
complecti armis, conlocare juxta, praeire sacramentum, (?n) 
modo Imperatorem militibus, modo Imperatori milites com- 
mendare. Nee deerat Otho, protendens manus, adorare 
vulgum, (n) jacere oscula, et omnia serviliter pro domina- 
tione. Postquam unirersa classicorum legio sacramentum 
ejus accepit ; fidens viribus, et, quos adhuc singulos exsti- 
mulaverat, accendendo in commune ratus, pro vallo castro- 
rum itacoepit 

XXXVII. ; Quis ad vos processerim, commilitones, di- 
cere non possum : quia nee privatum me vocare sustineo, 
Princeps a vobisnominatus ; nee Principem, alio imperan- 

. ' te. Vestrum quoque nomea in incerto erit, donee dubi- 

tabitur, Imperatorem Populi Rom. in castris, an hostem 

habeatis. Auditisne, ut pcena mea et supplicium vestrum 

9 simul postulentur ? adeo manifestum est, neque perire 

% nos, neque salvos esse, nisi una, posse. Et. cujus lenita- 

4 tis est Galba, jam fortasse promisit : ut qui, nullo expos- 

cente, tot miilia innocentissimorum militum trueidaverit. 

Horror animum subit, quotiens recordor feralem introitum. 

k Suetonius says, Galba put on his breast-plate, observing, at the 
same time, that it would be a poor defence against so many swords. 
Life of Galba, s. 19. Plutarch relates that the soldier, being asked 
by Galta, " Who gave you orders r" had the spirit to answer, " My 
oath and my duty." 

I In every Roman camp, the statue of the Emperor was placed 
in the tribunal, at the head-quarters of the general. 

m The form of the military oath was not always the same. The 
substance of it was, that they would obey their commander, and. 
not desert their standards One soldier was chosen to repeat ever 
the words of the oath, and as he passed along every one said, Idem 
in me, I swear the same. 

n Adorare vulgum. To court the common people. 

4 



22 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820; 

c et banc solam Galbae victoriam, cum, in oculis urbis, de~ 
< cumari deditos juberet, quos deprecantes in fidem accepe- 

* rat. His auspiciis urbeni ingressus, quam gloriam ad Prin- 
' cipatum adtulit, nisi occisi Obultronii Sabini et Cornelii 
« Marcelli in Hispania, Betui Cbilonis in Gallia, (o) Fonteii 
' Capitonis in Germania, Ciodii Macri in Africa, (p) Cingo- 
4 nii in via, Turpiliani in urbe, Nymphidii in castris ? Quae 

* usquam provincia, quae castra sunt, nisi cruenta et macu- 

* lata ? ant, ut ipse praedicat, emendata et correcta '! Nam, 
4 qua3 alii scelera, hie remedia vocat : dum falsis nomini- 

* bus, severitatem pro saevitia, parsimoniam pro avaritia, 
4 supplicia et contumelias vestras, disciplinam adpellat 
4 Septem a Neronis fine menses sunt, et jam plus rapuit 
4 Icelus, quam quod Polycleti et Vatinii et Elii paraverunt. 
4 Minore avaritia ac licentia grassatus esset T. Yinius, si 
; ipse imperasset : nunc et subjectos nos habuit, tamquam 
c suos, et viles, ut alienos. Una ilia domus sufficit donati- 
4 vo, quod vobis nunquam datur, et quotidie exprobratur. 

XXXVIII. £ Ac, ne qua saltern in successore Galbae spes 
4 esset, arcessit ab exsilio, quem tristitiaet avaritia sui simil- 
4 limum judicabat. Vidistis, commilifones, notabili tem- 
4 pestate etiam Deos infaustam adoptionem aversantes. 
4 Idem Senatus, idem Populi Rom. animus est. Vestra vir- 
4 tus exspectatur, apud quos orane honestis consiliis robur, 
4 et sine quibus, quam vis egregia, invalida sunt. Non ad 
4 bellum vos, nee ad periculum voco : omnium militum ar- 
4 ma nobiscum sunt. Nee una cohors togata defendit nunc 
; Galbam, sed detinet. Cum vos adspexerit, cum signum 
6 meum acceperit, hoc solum erit certamen, quis mihi plu- 
4 rimum imputet. (g) Nullus cunctationi locus est in eo 

o Gallia, the country of ancient Gaul, now France. It was di- 
vided by the Romans into Gallia Cisalpina, viz. Gaul on the Italian 
side of the Alps; and Gallia Transalpine, being, with respect to 
Rome, on the other side of the Alps. Hispania, Spain. It has the 
sea on every side except that next to Gaul, from which it is sepa- 
rated by the Pyrenees. 

p Germania, ancient Germany was bounded on the east by the 
Vistula, on the north by the ocean, on the west by the Rhine, on 
the south by the Danube. Africa generally means in Tacitus that 
part, which was made a proconsular province, of which Carthage 
was the capital ; now the territory of Tunis. 

q Cum vos, etc. When they see you advancing, and my signal is 
given, the only struggle will be, who shall have the greatest claims 
upon me ; i. e. for his exertions in my favour. 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 23 

' consilio, quodnon potest laudari, nisi peractum. 5 Aperire 
deinde armamentarium jussit : rapta statim arma, sine more 
et ordine militias, ut praetorianus aut legionarius insignibus 
suis distingueretur : miscentur auxiliaribus galeis scutisque. 
Nullo Tribunorum Centurionumve adhortante, sibi quisque 
dux et instigator : et praecipuumpessimorumincitamentum, 
quod boni maerebant. 

XXXIX. Jam exterritus Piso fremitu crebrescentis sedi- 
tionis, et vocibus in urbem usque resonantibus, egressum 
interim Galbam, et foro adpropinquantem, adsecutus erat : 
jam Marius Celsus haud IaBta retulerat : cum alii, ' in pa- 
* latium redire,' alii, ' capitolium petere,' plerique, i rostra 
' occupanda/ censerent, plures tantum sententiis aliorum 
contradicerent, utque evenit in consiliis infelicibus, optima 
viderentur, quorum tempus effugerat. Agitasse Laco, ig- 
naro Galba, de occiclendo T. Vinio dicitur, sive ut poena 
ejus animos militum mulceret. sen conscium Othonis crede- 
bat, ad postremum, vel odio : haesitationem adtulit tempos 
ac locus, quia, initio caedis orto, difficilis modus : et turba- 
vere consilium trepidi nuncii ac proximorum diffugia, lan- 
guentibus omnium studiis, qui primo alacres fidem atque 
animum ostentaverant. 

XL* Agebatur hue iliuc Galba, vario turbae fluctuantis 
inpulsu : completis undique basilicis ac templis, lugubri 
prospectu : neque populi, aut plebis ulla vox ; sed adtoniti 
vultus et conversae ad omnia aures : non tumultus, non quies : 
quale magni metus et magnae iroe silentium est. Othoni ta- 
men, ' armari plebem,' nuntiabatur. ' Ire praecipitcs et 
*- occupare pericula' jubet. Igitur milites Romani, quasi 
Vologesen aut Pacorum avito Arsacidarum solio depulsuri, 
ac non Imperatorem suum inermem et senem trucidare 
pergerent, disjecta plebe, proculcato Senatu, truces armis, 
rapidis equis, forum inrumpunt : nee illos capitolii adspec- 
tus, et inminentium templorum religio, et priores et futuri 
Principes terruere, quo minus facerent scelus, cujus ultor 
est, quisquis successisset. 

XLI. Viso cominus armatorum agmine, vexillarius co- 
mitatae Galbam cohortis (* Atilium Vergilionem fuisseitra- 
dunt) dereptam Galba? imaginem solo adflixit. Eo signo 
manifesta in Othonem omnium militum studia, desertum 
fuga populi forum, destricta adversus dubitantes tela. Juxta 
Curtii lacum, trepidatione ferentium Galba projectus e sella 
ae provolutus est, £xtremamejus vocem, ut mique odium 



m C. CORN. TACITL a. v. e. 820. 

aut admiratio fuit, varia prodidere. Alii, suppliciter inter- 
FOgasse, i quid mali meruisset ? paucos dies exsolvendo do- 
* nativo' deprecatum : plures, obtulisse ultro percussori- 
bus jagulurn, ' agerent ac ferirent, si ita e Republica vide- 
' retar :' non interfuit occidentium, quid diceret. De per- 
cussore non satis constat : quidam ' Terentium Evocatum,* 
(r) alii ' Lecanium ; 5 crebrior fama tradidit ' Camurium 
5 quintae decimae legionis militera, inpresso gladio, jugulum 
a ejus hausisse.' Ceteri crura brachiaque, nam pectus te- 
gebatur, (s) foede laniavere : pleraque vulnera feritate et 
saevitia trunco jam corpori adjecta. 

XLII. Titum inde Vinium invasere : de quo et ipso 
ambigitur, consumpseritne vocem ejus instans metus, anpro- 
clamaverit, ' non esse ab Othone mandatum, utoccideretur. 5 
Quod seu fioxit formidine, seu conscientiam conjurationis 
confessus est: hue potius ejus vita famaque inclinat, ut 
conscius sceleris fuerit, cujus caussa erat. (t) Ante aedem 
divi Julii jacuit, primo ictu in poplitem, mox ab Julio Caro, 
legionario milite, utrumque latus transverberatus. Insig- 
nem ilia die virum Semproniuai Densum aetas nostra vidit. 

XLIII. Centurio is Praetoriae cohortis, a Galba custodiae 
Pisonis additus, stricto pugione occurrens arniatis et scelus 
exprobrans, ac modo naanu, modo voce, vertendo in se per- 
cussores, quamquam vulnerato Pisoni effugium dedit. Piso 
in aadem Vestae pervasit, excep+usque misericordia publics 
servi et contubernio ejus abditus, non religione, nee caeri- 
moniis* sed latebra inminens exitium differebat : cum adve- 
nsre, missu Othonis, nominatim in caedem ejus ardentes^ 
Sulpicius Floras, e Britannicis cohortibus, nuper a Galba 
civitate donatus, et Statius Murcus, speculator : a quibus 
protractus Piso, in foribus templi trucidatur. 

XLlV. Nullam caedem Otho majore laetitia excepisse* 
nullum caput tam insatiabiiibus oculis perlustrasse dicitur: 
\u) sed turn primum levata omni sollicitudine mens vacare 

r Evocaium. Veteran soldiers, who had served out their time^ 
were often induced to enlist again, who were then called Evocati. 

s Pectus tegebatur. With a breast-plate. See sec. 35 of this book* 

t Galba laboured under the weight of crimes committed by his 
minister Titus Vinius, who is said to have been an accomplice in the 
plot, which was occasioned by his own iniquity. 

u On seeing the head of Galba, Otho cried out, " This is nothing, 
my fellow soldiers, bring me the head of Piso." See Plutarchj Life 
«f Galba 



61. H1ST0R. LIB. PRIMUS. 25 

gaudio coeperat : seu recordatio majestatis in Galba, amici- 
tiae in T. Vinio, quamvis inmitem animum imagine tristi 
confuderat : Pisonis, ut inimici et aemuli, caede laetari, jus 
fasque credebat. Praefixa contis capita gestabantur, inter 
signa cohortium v , juxta aquilam legionis : certatim ostentan- 
tibus cruentas manus, qui occiderant, qui interfuerant, qui 
vere, qui falso, ut pulchrum et memorabile facinus, jacta- 
bant. Plures quam centum et viginti libellos praemia ex- 
poscentium, ob aliquam notabilem ilia die operam, Vitelli- 
us postea invenit : omnesque conquiri et interfici jussit : 
non honore Galbae, sed tradito Principibus more, muniinen- 
tum ad praesens, inposterum ultionem. 

XLV. Alium crederes Senatum, alium populum : mere 
cuncti in castra, anteire proximos, certare cum praecurren- 
tibus, increpare Galbam, laudare militum judicium, exoscu- 
lari Othonis manum : quantoque magis falsa erant, quae 
fiebant, tanto plura facere. Non adspernabatur singulos 
Otho, avidum et minacem militum animum voce vultuque 
temperans. Marium Celsum, Consulem designatum et 
Galbae usque in extremas res amicum fidumque, ad suppli- 
cium expostulabant. industrial ejus innocentiaeque, quasi 
oralis artibus, infensi. Caedis et praedarum initium et Opti- 
mo cuique perniciem quaeri adparebat : sed Othoni nondum 
auctoritas inerat ad prohibendum scelus : jubere jam pote* 
rat. Ita, simulatione irae, ' vinciri' jussum, et ' majores 

* poenas daturum' adhrmans, praesenti exitio subtraxit. 

XLVI. Omnia deinde arbitrio militum acta. Praetorii 
Praefectos sibi ipsi legere : Plotium Firmum, e manipulari- 
bus quondam, turn vigilibus praepositum, et, incolumi adhuc 
Galba, partes Othonis secutum : adjungitur Licinius Procu- 
lus, intima familiaritate Othonis, suspectus, consi^ia ejus 
fovisse. Urbi Flavium Sabinum praefecere, judicium Ne- 
ronis secuti, sub quo eamdem curam obtinuerat : plerisque 
Vespasianum fratrem in eo respicientibus. Flagitatum, * ut 

* vacationes, (v) praestari Centurionibus solitae, remitteren- 

* tur.' Namque gregarius miles, uttributum annuum, pen- 
debat. Quarta pars manipuli sparsa per commeatus, aut in 
ipsis castris vaga, dum mercedem Centurioni exsolveret ; 
neque modum onens quisquam, neque genus quaestus pen- 
si habebat : per latrocinia et raptus, aut servilibus ministe^- 

v Vatativnes were the fees exacted by the centurions for occasion-* 
ai exemptions from duty, and for leave of absence. 

4* 



26 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 820. 

riis, militare otium redimebant. Turn locupletissimus quis- 
que miles labore ac ssevitia fatigari, donee vacationem erne- 
ret : ubi, sumptibus exhuustus, socordia insuper elanguerat, 
inops pro locuplete et iners pro strenuo, in manipulum redi- 
bat : ac rursus alius atque alius, eadem egestate ac licentia 
conrupti, ad seditiones et discordias, et ad extremum in 
bella civilia ruebant. Sed Otho, ne vulgi largitione Centu- 
rionum animos averteret, ' fiscum suum vacationes anmias 

* exsolucurum,' promisit : rem hand dubie utilem, et a bonis 
postea Principibus perpetuitate disciplinae firmatara. Laco 
Praefectus, tana qua m in insulam seponeretur, ab Evocato, 
quern ad cfedem ejus Otho praemiserat, confossus : in Mar- 
iianum Icelurn, utin libertinum, palam animadversum. 

XLVII. Exacto per scelera die, novissimum malorum 
fuit laetitia. Vocat Senatum Praetor urbanus : (w) certant 
adulaiionibusceteriMagistratus. Adcurrunt Patres : decer- 
nitur Othoni c Tribunicia potestas ac nomen Augusti et om- 

* nes Principum honores,' adnitentibus cunctis abolere coh- 
vicia ac probra, quae, promiscue jactu, haesisse animo ejus, 
nemo sensit : omisisset offensas, an distulisset, brevitate 
imperii in incerto fuit. Otho, cruento adhuc .foro, per 
strugem jacentium, in capitolium, atque inde in palatium 
vectus, concedi corpora sepulturae, cremarique permisit. 
Pisonem Verania uxor, ac frater Scribonianus, T. Vinium 
Grispina filia, composuere, quaesitis rederoptisque capiti- 
bus, (x) quae venalia interfectores servr:verc>nt. 

XL VIII. Piso unum et tricesimum aetatis annum exple- 
bat, fama meliore, qu^m fortuna. Fratres ejus, Magnum 
Claudius, Crassum Nero interfecerant. Ipse diu exsul, 
tpntricmo Csesar, properata ad option e ad hoc tantum majori 
fr \tri praelatus est, ut prior occideretur. T. Vinius quin- 
qu.CTuta septem annos variis motibus egit. Pater illi e 
Pretoria fa m ilia, maturnus avus e proscriptis. Prima mili- 
tia infamis, Legatum Calvisium Sabinum habuerat : cujus 
uxor, mala cupkjme visendi sicum castrorum, per noctem 
miiitari habitu ingressa, cum vigil ias et cetera militise munia 



w The two consuls, Galba and Vinius, being cut oif, the power 
«f oonyeuiiij* the seuaie devolve^ upon the city prsetor. See Cicero's 
EpisUe?. book x« epist. 12. 

x Crispins, the (laughter of Vinius bought her father's head, at 
an eiio' jious price, from the hands of assassins. See Plutarch's 
life of Galba. 



j. c. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. %i 

eadem lascivia tentasset, in ipsis principiis (xj) stuprum 
ausa: et criminis hujus reus T. Vinius arguebatur. Igitur 
jussuC. Caesaris, oneratus catenis, mox, mutatione tempo- 
rum, dimissus, cursu honorum inoffenso, legioni post Prsetu- 
ram propositus probatusque : servili deinceps probro res- 
persus est, tamquam scyphum aureum in convivio Claudii 
furatus : et Claudius postera die soli omnium Vinio fictili- 
bus ministrari jussit. Sed Vinius Proconsulatu Galliam 
Narbonensem (z) severe integreque rexit : mox Galbss 
amicitia in abruptum tractus, audax, callidus, promptus et, 
prout animum intendisset, pravus aut industrius, eadem vL 
Testamentum T. Vinii, magnitudine opum, inritum : Pi- 
sonis supremam voluntatem paupertas firmavit. 

XLIX. Galbae corpus diu neglectum et licentia tenebra- 
rum plurimis ludibriis vexatum, dispensator Argius, (a) e 
prioribus servis, humili sepultura in privatis ejus hortis con- 
texit. Caput, per lixas calonesque suffixum laceratumque, 
ante Patrobii tumulum (libertus is Neronis, punitus a Galba 
fuerat) postera demum die repertum et cremato jam corpo- 
ri admixtum est. Hunc exitum habuit Ser. Galba, tribus et 
septuaginta annis quinque Principes prospera fortuna emen- 
sus. et alieno Imperio felicior, quam suo. Vetus in familia 
nobilitas, magnae opes : ipsi medium ingenium, magis extra 
vitia, quam cum virtutibus. Famae nee incuriosus, nee 
venditator. Pecuniae alienae non adpetens, suae parous, 
publicae avarus. Amicorum libertoruinque, ubi in bonos 
incidisset, sine reprebensione patiens : si mali forent, usque 
ad culpam ignarus. (b) Sed claritas natalium et metus 
temporum obtentui, ut, quod segnitia erat, sapientia voca- 
retur. Dum vigebat aetas, militari laude apud Germanias 
floruit. Pro consul e Africam moderate : jam senior, cite- 
riorem Hispaniam pari justitia continuit : major privato visus, 
dum privatus fait, et omnium consensu capax Imperii, nisi 
imperasset.. 

y The principia was a broad open space, extending; the whole 
breadth of the camp, where the tribunal of the general was erect- 
ed ; where the Tribunes held their courts, and punishments were 
-inflicted; and where the principal standards of the army and the 
altars of the gods stood ; hence it was considered sacred. 

s Gallia Narhonensis, now Languedoc, Dauphiny and Provence. 

a Dispensatory etc. Argius, one of his former slaves and his steward. 

b Si mali, etc. Literally, if they were bad, he was ignorant to a 
fault : or y when bad Plea surxgUHtleQ hira, his good nature bordered 
on folly. 



2S G. CORN. TACITi. a. v. £ &20, 

L. Trepidam urbem, ac simul atrocitatem, recentis 
sceleris, simul veteres Othonis mores paventem, novus insu- 
per ' de VitelhV nuntius exterruit, ante caedem Galbae 
suppressus, ut, tantum superioris Germaniae exercitum des- 
civisse, crederetur. Turn c duos, omnium mortalium in- 
i pudicitia, ignavia, luxuria deterrimos, velut ad perden- 
' dum Imperium fataliter electos,' non Senatus modo et 
Eques, quis aliqua pars et cura Reipublicae, sed vulgue 
quoque palam moerere. Nee jam recentia saevae pacis ex- 
empla, sed repetita bellorum civilium memoria ; ' captam 
' totiens suis exercitibus urbem, vastitatem Italiae, direptio- 
; nes provinciarum, Pharsaliam, Philippos et Perusiam ac 
6 Mutinam', (c) nota publicarum cladium nomina, loquebantur. 
4 Prope eversum orbem, etiamcumde Principatu inter bo- 
' nos certaretur : sed mansisse C. Iuli, mansisse Caesare 
c Augusto victore Imperium : mansurum fuisse, sub Pom- 
peio Brutoque, Rempublicam. Nunc pro Othone, an pro 
i Vitellio, in templa ituros ? Utrasque impias preces, 
c utraque detestanda vota, inter duos, quorum bello solum 
4 id scires, deteriorem fore, qui vicisset.' Erant, qui Ves- 
pasianum et arma Orientis augurarentur : et, ut potior 
utroque Vespasianus, ita bellum aliud atque alias clades hor- 
rebant. Et ambigua de Vespasiano fama; (d) solusque 
omnium ante se Principum in melius mutatus est. 

LL Nunc initia^caussasque motus Vitelliani expediam. 
Caeso cum omnibus copiis Julio Vindice, ferox prseda glo- 
riaque exercitus, ut cui sine labore ac periculo ditissimi 
belli victoria evenisset, expeditionem quam otium, prae- 
mia (e) quam stipendia malebat. Diu infructuosam et 
asperam militiam toleraverant, ingenio loci caelique et se- 
veritate disciplinae ; quam, in pace inexorabilem, discordiae 
civium resolvunt, paratis utrimque conruptoribus et perfi- 
dia inpunita. Viri, arma, equi, ad usum et ad decus, su- 
pererant ; sed ante bellum centurias tantum suas turmasque 
noverant : exercitus finibus provinciarum discernebantur. 
turn adversus Vindicem contract® legiones, seque et Galli- 
as expertae, quaerere rursus arma, novasque discordias: 

c The battle of Pharsalia was A.U. C. 706 ; that of Mutina, 711, 
and the siege of Perusia, 714, 

(I Vespasian, in the reign of Caligula, was a time serving flatter- 
er; and, being afterwards overwhelmed with debts, was a man of 
an equivocal character. 

e Pramia — Plunder, in which sense it is frequently used, 



j. e. 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 29 

nee ■ socios,' ut olim seel « hostes, et victos' vocabant. Nee 
deerat pars Galliarum, quae Rhenum accolit, easdem partes 
secuta, ac turn acerrima instigatrix adversus * Galbianos :' 
hoc enim nomen, fastidito Vindice, indiderant. Igitur Se- 
quanis iEduisque ac deinde, prout opulentia civitatibus erat, 
infensi, expugnationes urbium, populationes agrorum, rap- 
tus penatium hauserunt animo : super avaritiam et adro- 
gantiam, praecipua validiorum vitia, contumacia Gallorum 
inritati, qui, ' remissam sibi a Galba quartarn tributorum 

* partem : eos publice donates, (/) in ignominiam exerci- 

* tus,' jactabant. Accessit callide vulgatum, temere credi- 
fcum, ' decumari iegiones et promptissimum quemque Cen- 

* turionum dimitti : 5 undique atroces nuntii, sinistra ex urbe 
fama ; infensa Lugdunensis colonia, et, pei tinaci pro Ne- 
rone fide, fecunda rumoribus. Sed plurima ad fingendum 
credendumque materies in ipsis castris, odio, metu, et, ubi 
rires suas respexerant, securitate. * 

LII. Sub ipsas superioris anni Kal. Decembres Aulus Vi- 
tellius, inferiorem Germaniam ingressus, hiberna legion um 
cum cura adierat, redditi plerisque ordines, remissa ignomi- 
nia, adlevatae notae : plura ambitione, quaedam judicio : in 
quibus sordem et avaritiam Fonteii Capitonis, adimendis 
adsignandisve militiae ordinibus, integre mutaverat. Nee 
Consularis Legati mensura, sed in majus omnia accipie- 
bantur. Et Vitellius apud severos humilis. Id comitatem 
bonitatemque faventes vocabant, quod sine modo, sine ju- 
dicio donaret sua, largiretur aliena , simul aviditate impe- 
randi : (g) ipsa vitia pro virtutibus interpretabantur multi in 
utroque exercitu sicut modesti quietique, ita mali etstrenui. 
Sed profusa cupidine et insigni temeritate Legati legionum, 
Alienus Caecina et Fabius Valens : e quibus Valens, infen- 
sus Galbae, tamquam detectam a se Verginii cunctationem, 
oppressa Capitonis consilia ingrate tulisset, instigare Vi» 
te Ilium, ' ardorem militum' ostentans. ' Ipsum celebri 

* ubique fama : nullam in Flacco Hordeonio moram : ad- 

* fore Britanniam : secntura Germanorum auxilia : male 
4 fidas provincias : precarium seni Imperium et brevi tran- 
- siturum : panderet modo sinum et venienti Fortune oc° 



/ Publice donates, i. e. with the territories which Galba had taken 
from the Gallic States. 

g Aviditate imperandi. The gerund is used passively ; they de- 
sired to be governed by hioL 



30 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 820. 

' curreret. Merito dubitasse Verginium, Equestri familia, 
' ignoto patre : inparem, si recepisset Imperium, tutum, 

* si recusasset. Vicellio tres patris Consulates, Censuram, 
6 conlegium Caesaris, imponere jampridem Imperatoris dig- 

* nationem, auferri privati securitatem.' 

LIII. Quatiebatur bis segne ingenium, ut concupisceret 
magis, quam utsperaret. At in superiore Germania, Cae- 
cina, decora juventa, corpore ingens, animi immodicus, 
scito sermone, erecto incessu, studia militum inlexerat. 
Hunc jnvenem Galba, Quaestorem in Baetica, impigre in 
partes suas transgressum, legioni prasposuit : mox comper- 
tum, publicum pecuniam avertisse, ut peeulatorem flagitari 
jussit. Caecina aegre passus, miscere cuncta et privata 
vulnera Reipublicae malis operire statuit. Nee deerant in 
exercitu semina discordiae : quod et bello adversus Vindi- 
cem universus adfuerat, nee, nisi occiso Nerone, translatus 
in Galbam, atque in eo ipso sacramento vexillis inferioris 
Germanise praeventus erat Et Treveri at Lingones, quas- 
que alias civitates atrocibus edictis aut damno finium Galba 
perculerat, hibernis legionum propius miscentur. Unde 
seditiosa conloquia, et inter paganos conruptior miles, et in 
Verginium favor, cuicumque alii profuturus. 

LIV. Miserat civitas Lingonum, vetere instituto, dona 
legionibus, dextras, hospitii insigne. (h) Legati eorum, in 
squalorem maestitiamque cempositi, per principia, per con- 
tubernia, modo * suas injurias,' modo ' civitatum vicinarum 
' praemia,' et, ubi pronis militum auribus accipiebantur, 
4 ipsius exercitus pericula et contumelias' conquerentes, 
accendebant animos. Nee procul seditione aberant, cum 
Hordeonius Flaccus c abire Legatos,' utque occultior di« 
gressus esset, ' nocte castris excedere' jubet Inde atrox 
rumor, adfirmantibus plerisque, ' interfectos, ac, nisi ipsi 
6 consulerent, fore, ut acerrimi militum, et praesentia con- 
f questi, per tenebras et inscitiam ceterorum occiderentur.' 
Obstringuntur inter se tacito foedere legiones. Adsciscitur 
auxiliorum miles ; primo suspectus, tamquam, circumdatis 
cohortibus alisque, inpetus in legiones pararetur, mox 
eadem acrius volvens : faciliore inter malos consensu ad 
bellum, quam in pace ad concordiam. 

h Misera^ etc. The Lingones, in token of friendship, had sent 
presents to the legions, and, in conformity to their ancient usage, 
the symbolical figure of two right hands clasping one another. 



j. c, 67. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 31 

LV. Inferioris tamen Germanise legiones solemni Ka- 
lend. Januariarum sacramento pro Gaiba adactae, multa 
cunctatione et raris primorum ordinum vocibus : ceteri si- 
lentio proximi cuj usque audaciam exspectantes : insita mor- 
talibus natura, propere sequi, qua3 piget inchoare. Sed 
ipsis legionibus inerat diversitas animorum. Primani quin- 
tanique turbidi adeo, ut quidam saxa in Galbae imagines je- 
cerint : quintadecima ac sextadecima legiones, nihil ultra 
fremitum et minas ausee, initium erumpendi circumspecta- 
bant. At in superiori, quarta ac duodevicessima legiones, 

!em hibernis tendentes, ipso Kalend. Januariarum die, 
dirumpunt imagines Galbae : quarta legiopromptius, duode- 
vicesima cunctanter, mox consensu. Ac, ne reverentiam 
Imperii exuere viderentur, Senatus Populique Romani ob- 
literatajam nomina sacramento advocabant : nullo Legato- 
rum Tribunorumve pro Gaiba nitente, quibusdam, ut in tu- 
multu, notabilius turbantibus. Non tamen quisquam in mo- 
dura concionis e suggestu locutus : neque enim erat adhuc, 
cui inputaretur. (i) 

LVI. Spectator flagitii Hordeonius Flaccus, Consularis 
Legatus, aderat non compescere ruentes, non retinere du- 
bios, non cohortaribonos ausus : sed segnis, pavidus et so- 
eordia innocens. Quatuor Centuriones duodevicesimae le- 
gionis, Nonius Receptus, Donatius Valens, Romilius Mar- 
cellus, Calpurnius Repentinus, cum protegerent Galbae 
imagines, inpetu militum abrepti vinctique. Nee cuiquam 
ultra fides aut memoria prioris sacramenti : sed, quod in 
seditionibus accidit, unde plures erant, omnes fuere. Noc- 
te, quae Kal. Januarias secuta est, in coloniam Agrippen- 
sem (j) aquilifer quartae legionis epulanti Vitellio nunciat, 
' quartam et duodevicesimam legiones, projectis Galbae 
c imaginibus, in Senatus et Populi Rom. verba jurasse.' Id 
sacramentum inane visum : ' occupari nutantem Fortunam 
* et offerri Principem,' placuit. Missi a Vitellio ad legiones 
Legatosque, qui ' descivisse a Gaiba superioremexercitum, 5 
nunciarent : ' proinde aut bellandum adversus desciscentes, 

i No?i tameri, etc. No man took upon him to harranguethe mul- 
titude, no orator ascended the tribunal, for they could not tell in 
whose service their eloquence was to be employed, 

j Agrippmtmis colonia ; so called from Agrippina, the daughter 
of Germanicus, mother of Nero, and afterwards wife of the Empe- 
ror Claudius. This place is now called Cologne, situated on the 
Pvhine. 



32 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 82©- 

• aut, si concordia et pax placeat, faciendum Imperatorem : 

* et minore discrimine sumi Principem, quam quaeri. 

LVil. Proxima legionis primas hiberna erant, et promp- 
tissimus e Legatis Fabius Valens. Is die postero coloniam 
Agrippinensem cum equitibus legionis auxiliariorumque in- 
gressus, ' Imperatorem' Vitellium consalutavit. Secutae 
ingenti certamine ejusdemprovinciae legiones : et superior 
exercitus, speciosis Senatus populique Romani nominibus 
relictis, tertium Nonas Januarias Vitellio accessit : scires 
ilium priore biduo non penes Rempublicam fuigse. Ar^o- 
rem exercituum Agrippinenses, T reverb, Lingones aequa- 
bant, ' auxiiia, equos, arma, pecunias 5 ofierentes, utquisque 
corpore, opibus, ingenio vaiidus. Nee principes modo co- 
loniarum aut castrorum, quibus praesentia ex adfluenti et 
parta victoria magnse spes : sed manipuli qucque et grega- 
rius miles viatica sua et balteos phalerasque, insignia irmo- 
rum argentp decora, loco pecuniae tradebant ; instinctu et 
inpetu et avaritia. (k) 

LVFII. Igitur, laudata militum alacritate, VitelliuSj minis- 
teria Principatus, per libertos agi soiita, in Equites Roiiia- 
nos disponit : vacationes Centurionibus ex risco numerat : 
saevitiam militum, plerosque ad poenain exposcentiuro, ssepi- 
us adprobat, partim simulatione vinculorum fiustraur. 
Pompeius Propinquus, Procurator Beigicae, statim interface 
tus. Juiium Burdonem, Gerinaniae classis Praefecrum, astu 
subtraxit. Exarserat in eum iracundia exerckus, tamquam 
crimen ac mox insidias Fonteio Capitoni struxisset. Grata 
erat memoria Capitonis : etapudsaevientes occidere palam 9 
ignoscere non nisi fallendo, licebat. Ita in custodia habi- 
tus : et post victoriam demum, stratis jam militum odiis, 
dimissus est. Interim, ut piaculum, objicitur Centurio Cris- 
pinus, qui se sanguine Capitonis cruentaverat : eoque et 
postulantibus manifestior et punienti vilior fuit. 

LIX. Julius deinde Civilis periculo exemptus, praepotens 
inter Batavos, ne supplicio ejus ferox gens alienaretur. Et 
erant in civitate Lingonum octo Batavorum cobortes, quar- 
taedecimae legionis auxiiia, turn discordia temporuoi a legio- 
ne digres^ae, prout inciinassent, grande momentum sociae 
aut adversae. Nonium, Donatium, Romilium, Calpurnium, 



k InslinctUy etc. Some did it impetu, L e. at the instigation of 
others; some instinctu, from a natural impulse ; and seme arariha, 
with the hope cf receiving again more than they had given: 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 

Centuriones, de quibus supra retulimus, occidi jussit. dam- 
natos iidei crimine, gravissimo inter desciscentes. Acces- 
sere partibus Valerius Asiaticus, Belgicse provincise Lega- 
tus, quern mox Viteliius generum adscivit : et Junius Blae- 
sus, Lugdunensis Galliae rector, cum Italica legione et ala 
Taurina, Lugduni tendentibus. (/) Nee in Rhaeticis copiis 
mora, quo minus statim adjungerentur. Ne in Britannia 
quidem dnbiutum. 

LX. Preeerat Trebellius Maximus, per avaritiam ac sor- 
des contemptus exercitui invisusque. Accendebat odium 
ejus Roscius Cselius, Legatus vicesitnaB legionis, olim nis- 
cors, sed occasione civilium armorum atroeius proruperat. 
Trebellius ' seditionem et confusum ore 1 in m disciplines' 
Caeiio ; ' spoliatas et inopes legiones' Caelius Trebellio 
objectabat : cum interim foedis Legatorum certaminibus 
modestia exercitus conrupta, eoque discordiae ventum, ut 
auxiliarium quoque militum conviciis proturbatiis^ et, ad- 
gregantibus se Caeiio cohortibus alisque, desertus Trebelli- 
us ad Vitellium perfugerit: quies p'rovinciae, quamquam 
remoto Consulari, mansit : rexere Legati legionum ; pares 
jure, Cselius audendo potentior. 

LXI. Adjuncto Britannico exercitu, ingens viribus opi- 
busque Viteliius, duos Duces, duo itinera bello destine vit 
F bius Valens ' adlicexe, vel, si abnuerent, vastare Gallias, 
et Cottianis Alpibus Italiam inrumpere :' Caecina ' propio- 

* re transitu, Peninis jugis degredi' jussus. Valenti infe- 
rioris exercitus electi, cum aquila quintae legionis et cohor- 
tibus alisque, ad quadraginta millia armatorum data : trigin 
ta inillia Caecina e superiore Germania ducebat, quorum 
robur legio una, prima et vicesima, fuit : addita utrique 
Germanorum auxilia, e quibus Viteliius suas quoque copias 
supplevit, tota mole belli secuturus. 

LXI J. Mira inter exercitum Imperatoremque diversitas, 
Instare miles, arma pose ere, ' dum Galliae trepident, dum 

* Hispaniae cunctentur : non obstare biemem neque igna- 
; vae pacis moras : invadendam Italiam, occupandam urbem : 

* nihil in discordiis civilibus festinatione tutius, ubi facto 

* magis, quirn consulto opus esset.' Torpebat Viteliius, 
et fortunam Principatus inerti luxu ac prodigis epulis praB- 

l The Taurinian squadron was so called from the Taurini, or 
people of Tarin. Lugdunum, a city of ancient Gaul, cow Lyons. 

5 



34 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 821. 

sumebat, medio diei temulentus et sagina gravis : (m) cum 
tamen ardor et vis militum ultro Ducis munia inplebat, ut 
si adesset Imperator, et strenuis, vel ignavis spem metum- 
que adderet. Instructi intentique c signum profectionis' 
exposcunt. Nomen ' Germanici' Vitellio statim additum : 
' Caesarem' se. adpellari etiam victor prohibuit. (n) Lse- 
tum augurium Fabio Valenti exercituique, quern in bellum 
agebat, ipso profectionis die, aquila leni meatu, prout ag- 
men incederet, velut dux viae, praevolavit : longumque per 
spatium is gauclentium militum clamor, ea quies interritae 
alitis fuit, ut baud dubium magnae et prosperae rei omen ac- 
ciperetur. Et Treveros quidem, ut socios, securi adiere. 

LXIII. Divoduri (Mediomatricorum id oppidura est) (o) 
quamquam omni comitate exceptos subitus pavor exterruit, 
raptis repente armis ad caedem innoxiae civitatis : non ob 
praedam aut spoliandi cupidine, sed furore etrabie et caus- 
sis incertis, eoque difficilioribus remediis ; donee, precibus 
Ducis mitigati, ab excidio civitatis temperavere : caesa ta- 
men ad quatuor millia*bominum. Isque terror Gallias in- 
vasit, ut venienti mox agmini universal civitates cum Magis- 
tratibus et precibus occurrerent, stratis per vias pueris 
feminisque ; quseque alia placamenta (p) hostilis irae, non 
quidem in bello, sed pro pace, tendebantur. 

LXIV. Nuntium de caede Galbse et Imperio Otbonis, Fa- 
bius Valens in civitate Leucorum accepit. Nee militum 
animus in gaudium aut formidinem permotus : bellum vol- 
vebat. Gallis cunctatio exempta, et in Othonem ac Vitel- 
lium odium par, ex Vitellio et metus. Proxima Lingonum 
civitas erat, fida partibus : benigne excepti, modestia cer- 
tavere ; sed brevis laetitia fuit, cohortium intemperie, 
quas, a legione quartadecima, ut supra memoravimus, di- 
gressas, exercitui suo Fabius Valens adjunxerat. Jurgia 

r m For an account of the sloth, drunkenness, and other vices of 
Vitellius, see Suetonius, in Vitel. s. 17. 

n Ccesarem se appellari— prohibuit ; still he assumed this name 
himself. See Hist. 3. 58. 

o The Treveri were the inhabitants of a city of lower Germany, 
on the Moselle : now called Treves. MediomatricU a people of Gal- 
lia Belgica; now the diocese of Mentz. 

p Placamenta, etc. Olive branches and sacred vestments were 
usually displayed in cases of distress, when the conquered sued for 
mercy, and though nothing like hostility subsisted, this people was 
obliged, in profound peace, to deprecate all the horrors of war. 



j. c. 68. HiSTOR; LIB. PRIMUS. 35 

primum : mox rixa (9) inter Batavos et legionarios, dum 
his aut illis studia militum adgregantur, prope in proelium 
exarsere ; ni Valens animadversione paucorum oblitos jam 
Batavos imperii admonuisset. Frustra adversus Mduos 
quassita belli caussa: jussi ' pecuniam atque arma deferre,' 
gratuitos insuper commeatus praebuere : quod iEdui for- 
midine, (r) Lugdunenses gaudio fecere. Sed legio Italica 
et ala Taurina abductae. Cohortem duodevicesimam Lug- 
duni, solitis sibi hibernis, relinqui placuit. Manlius Va- 
lens, Legatus Italicae legionis, quamquam bene de partibus 
meritus, nullo apnd Vitellium honore fuit : secretis eum 
criminationibus infamaverat Fabius ignarum et, quo incau- 
tior deciperetur, palamlaudatum. 

LXV. Veterem inter Lugdunenses Viennensesque (s) 
discordiam proximum bellum accenderat : multae invicem 
clades, crebrius infestiusque, quam ut tantum propter Ne- 
ronem Galbamque pugnaretur. Et Galba reditus Lugdu- 
nensium, occasione irae, in tiscum verterat : (t) multus 
contra in Viennenses honor ; unde aemulatio et invidia et 
uno amne discretis (u) connexum odium. Igitur Lugdu- 
nenses exstimulare singulos militum, et in eversionem Vi- 
ennensium impellere, ' obsessam ab illis coloniam suam, 
1 adjutos Vindicis conatus, conscriptas nuper legiones in 
6 presidium Galbae' referendo : et, ubi caussas odiorum 
praetenderant, magnitudinem praedae ostendebant. Nee 
jam secreta exhortatio, sed publicae preces : ' Irent ul- 

* tores, exscinderent sedem Gallici belli : cuncta illic ex- 
6 terna et hostilia : se coloniam Romanam (v) et partem 

* exercitus et prosperarum adversarumque rerum socios : 
i si fortuna contra daret, iratis ne relinquerentur.' 

LXVI. His et pluribus in eundem modum, perpulerant 

q Jurgia, disputes or opprobrious words ; rixa, quarrels. 

r JEduiformidine. Because they had favoured Galba. Lugdu- 
nenses gaudio, because they had been opposed to both Galba and 
Vindex. 

s Viennenses, the inhabitants of Vienne, a city of Narbonese Gaul ; 
now Vienne Dauphine. 

t The people of Lyons waged war against Vindex, and on that ac- 
count Galba made them feel his resentment. 

u The cities of Lyons and Vienne were separated by the river 
Rhodanus ; now the Rhone. 

v Se coloniam Romanam. i. e, worthy of the name ; for Vienne 
was also a Roman colony, but there, cuncta externa et hostilia ; con- 
sequently they had forfeited their claims to this name; 



36 e. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 821. 

wt ne Legati quidem, ac Duces partium restingui posse ira* 
eundiam exercitus arbitrarentur : cum haud ignari discrt* 
minis sui Viennenses, velamenta et infulas praeferentes, 
ubi agmen incesserat, arma, genua, vestigia prensando, 
flexere militum animos. Addidit Valens trecenos singulis 
militibus sestertios : turn vetustas dignitasque coloniae va- 
luit, et verba Fabii, salutem incolumitatemque Viennen- 
sium commend antis, aequis auribus accepta : publice tamen 
armis mulctanti, privatis et promiscuis copiis juvere mi- 
litem. Sed fama constans fuit, ' ipsum Valentem magna 
' pecunia emptum.' Is diu sordidus, repente dives, mu- 
iationem fortuna3 male tegebat, accensis egestate longa cu- 
pidinibus inmoderatus, et, inopi juventa, senex prodigus. 
Lento deinde agmine, per fines Ailobrogum (w) et Vocon- 
tiorum ductus exercitus : ipsa itinerurn spatia et stativo- 
rum mutationes venditante Duce, foedis pactionibus adver- 
sus possessores agrorum et Magistratus civitatum, adeo mi- 
naciter, ut Luco (municipiurn id Vocontiorum est) faces 
admoverit, donee pecunia mitigaretur : quotiens pecuniae 
materia deesset, stupris et adulteriis exorabatur. Sic ad 
Alpes perventum. 

LXVII. Plus praedae ac sanguinis Csecina hausit. In- 
ritaverant turbidum ingenium Helvetii (#) Gallica gens, olim 
armis virisque, mox memoria nominis clara, de caede Gal- 
bae ignari, et Vitellii imperium abnuentes. Initium bello 
fuit avaritia ac festinatio unaetvicesimae legioriis: rapue- 
rant pecuniam, missam in stipendium castelli ; quod olim 
Helvetii suis militibus ac stipendiis tuebantur : segre id 
passi Helvetii, intercepts epistolis, quae nomine Germani- 
ci exercitus ad Pannonicas legiones ferebantur, Centurio- 
nem et quosdam militum in custodia retinebant. Caecina,, 
belli avidus, proximam quamque culpam, antequam pseni- 
teret, ultum ibat : mota propere castra : vastati agri : di- 
reptus longa pace in modum municipii exstructus locus, (?/) 
amoeno salubrium aquarum usu frequens : missi ad Rhae- 

iv Allobroges, a people of Narbon Gaul, situated between the 
Rhone nnd Lake Leman. 

x The territory of the Helvetii was a part of Celtic Gaul, more 
extensive than what is now called Switzerland. The people were 
celebrated for their bravery See Caesar, Bell. Gall. Lib. 1. s, 1. 

y Brotier says, this place was called in ancient inscriptions, Res- 
publico, mquensis, on account of the salubrity of its waters. Now 
Baden, in the territory of Switzerland? 



j. c. 66. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 37 

tica auxilia nuntii, ut versos in legionem Helvetios a tergo 
adgrederentur. 

LXVIII. Illi, ante discrimen feroces, in periculo pavidi, 
quamquam primo tumultu Claudium Severum Ducem le- 
gerant, non arma noscere, non ordines seqai, non in 
unum ' consulere : exitiosum adversus veteranos (z} proe- 
lium, intuta obsidio, dilapsis vetustate mosnibus : hinc 
Caecina cum valido exercitu ; inde Rhaeticae alae cohortes- 
que et ipsorum Rbaetorum juventus, sueta armis et more 
militias exercita : undique populatio et caedes : ipsi in 
medio vagi, abjectis armis, magna pars saucii aut palantes, 
in montem Vocetium (a) perfugere. Ac statim, inmissa 
cohorte Thracum, depulsi, et, consectantibus Germanicis 
Rhaetisque, per silvas atque in ipsis latebris trucidati : 
multa hominum millia caesa, multa sub corona venundata. 
Cumque, dirutis omnibus, Aventicum, {b) gentis caput, 
justo agmine peteretur, missi, qui dederent civitatem : et 
deditio accepta. In Julium Alpinum, e principibus, ut 
concitorem belli, Casein a animadvertit : ceteros veniae vel 
saevitiae Vitellii reliquit. 

LXIX. Haud facile dictu est, legati Helvetiorum minus 
placabilem Imperatorem, an militem invenerint : ' civita- 
i tis excidium' poscunt, tela ac manus in ora Legato'rum 
intentant. Ne VitelHus quidem minis ac verbis tempera- 
bat : cum Claudius Cossus, unus ex Legatis, notae facun- 
diae, sed dicendi artem apta trepidatione occultans atque eo 
validior, militis animum mitigavit : ut est mox vulgus mu= 
labile subitis et tarn pronum in misericordiam, quam im- 
modicum saevitia fuerat : effusis lacrimis, et meliora con- 
stantius postulando, inpunitatem salutemque civitati im- 
petravere. 

LXX. Caecina paucos in Helvetiis moratus dies, dum 
sententiae Vitellii certior fieret, simul transitum Alpium 
parans, laetum ex Italia nuntium accipit, ' alam Silanam.. 

s Veterani usually signifies those soldiers, who, having served 
sixteen campaigns, were exempt from all military duty except 
fighting. In this passage it is synonymous with the English word 
veterans. 

a Vocttium. Mons Vocttius, a mouotain of the Helvetii, thought 
to be the roughest part of mount Jura. 

b Aventicum, the capital pf the Helvetii ; by the Germans called 
Wiflisburg, by the French Avenches. 

5 * 



38 C. CORN. TACITf. a. u. c. 821. 

*: circa Padum agentem, (c) sacramento Vitellii accessisse.' 
Proconsulem Vitellium Syllani in Africa habuerant : mox 
a Nerone, ut in iEgyptum praemitterentur, exciti, et ob 
bellum Vindicis revocati, ac turn in Italia manentes, in- 
stinctu Decurionum, qui Othonis ignari, Vitellio obstricti, 
robur adventantium legionum et famam Germanici exer- 
citas adtollebant, transiere in partes : et, ut donum aliquod 
novo Principi, firmissima Transpadanae regionis municipia 
Mediolanum ac Novariam et Eporediam ac Vercellas, (d) 
adjunxere : id Caecinse per ipsos compertum. Et,quia prse- 
sidio alae unius latissima pars Italias defendi nequibat, prae- 
missis Gallorum Lusitanorum Britannorumque cohortibus 
et Garmanorum vexillis, cum ala Petrina, ipse paulitilum 
cunctaius, nura Rhseticis jugis in Noricum flecteret, ad- 
versus Petronium, (urbis) Procuratorem, qui concitis auxi- 
liis, et interrupts fluminum pontibus, fidus Othoni putaba- 
tur. Sed metu, ne amitteret praemissas jam cohortes 
alas que,' simul reputans, plus gloriae retenta Italia, et, ubi- 
cumque certatum foret, Noricos in cetera victoriae praernia 
cessuros, Penino subsignanum militem itinere, (e) et grave 
legionum agmen hibernis adhuc Alpibus traduxit. 

LXXI. Otho interim, contra spem omnium, non deliciis, 
neque desidia torpescere : dilatae voluptates, dissimulata 
luxuria, et cuncta ad decorum Imperii composita : eoque 
plus formidinis adferebant falsas virtutes et vitia reditura. 
Marium Celsum, Consulem designatum, per speciem vin- 
culorum, (/) saevitise militum subtractum, acciri in capi- 
tolium jubet : dementias titulus e viro claro, et partibus 



c The Ala Syllana was a body of cavalry, originally raised by 
Sylla. The Padus, a river in the north of Italy, runs from west to 
ea^t, and discharges itself into the Adriatic. It is now called the 
Po. 

d Mediolanum, now Milan, in Italy. Nov aria, now Novara, a 
city of Milan. Eporedia, a town at the foot of the Alps, now Jura, 
a city of Piedmont. Vercellce, now Vercelli, in Piedmont. 

e The Subsignamis Miles, mentioned in this passage, means the 
Soldier who fought under the colours, Vexilla, and not under ihe 
Ea \c:s. The auxiliaries, the veterans detained in service, and the 
m drafted frdjd the legies? Were of this description. 

/ Otho, to api>e:-tse the fury oM he soldiers, had thrown Marius 
Celsus Into prison* At that time* he could instigate the soldiers tc* 
perpetrate any atrocious deed, but to retrain them was hardly i-a 
his power. 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 39 

inviso, petebatur. Celsus, constanter servatae erga Gal* 
bain fidei crimen confessus, exemplum uitro mputavit. 
(g) Nee Otho, quasi ignosceret, sed, ne hostis metum recon- 
cilntionis adhiberet, statim inter intimos amicos habuit, 
et mox bello inter Duces delegit : mansitque Celso, velut 
fataliter, etiam pro Othone fides integra et infelix. Laeta 
primoribus civitatis, celebrata in vulgus Celsi salus, ne mi- 
litibas qaidem ingrata fuit, eandem virtutem admirantibus^ 
cui irascebantur. 

LXXII. Par inde exsaltatio disparibus caussis consecuta, 
impetrata Tigellini exitio. Sophonius Tigellinus, obscuris 
parentibus, fcda pueritia, impudica senecta, Praefecturana 
vigilum et Praetorii et alia praemia virtutum quia velocius 
erat vitiis adeptus, crudelitatem mox, deinde avaritiam et 
virilia scelera exercuit, conrupto ad omne facinus Nerone ; 
quae lam ignaro ausus, ac postremo ejusdem desertor ac 
proditor. Unde non alium pertinacius ad poenam flagita- 
vere, diverso adfectu, qutbus odium Neronis inerat, et qui- 
bus desiderium, ApudGalbam T. Vinii potentia defensus ? 
preetexentis, ' servatam ab eo filiam :' et haud dubie serva- 
verat, non dementia, quippe tot interfectis,sed effugio in fu- 
tururn : quia pessimus quisque, diffidentia praesentiuin mu- 
tationem pavens, adversus publicum odium privatam grati- 
am praeparat : unde nulla innocentiae cura, sed vices inpu- 
nitatis. Eo infensior populus, addita ad vetus Tigellini 
odium recenti T. Vinii invidia : concurrere e tota urbe in 
pal at i urn ac fora, et, ubi plurima v r ulgi licentia. in circum 
actheatra effusi, seditiosis vocibus obstrepere : donee Ti- 
gellinus, accepto apud Sinuessanas (h) aquas supremae ne- 
cessitatis nuntio, inter stupra concubinarum et oscula et 
deformes moras, sectis novacula faucibus, infamem vitam 
foe davit etiam exitu fero et inhonesto. 

LXXIII. Per idem tempus expostulata ad supplicium 
Calvia Prispinilla variis frustrationibus, et adversa dissimu- 
htiitis Principisfama, periculo exemptaest: magistra libidi- 
nu r .] Neronis, transgressa in Africam, ad instigandum (i) in 
anna Clodium Macrum, famem populo Rom : hawd obscure 

g Exemplum ultro inputavit. Celsus acknowledged his fidelity 
to Galba, and on this account justified himself to Otho, whose inte- 
rest it whs to have faithful officers. 

h Sinuessa, a town of Latiuaa, much frequented for the salubrity 
- of its waters ; new called Gar-gliano. 

i Ad instigandum, tie. to revenge the death of Nero. 



40 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 821. 

molita, totius postea civitatis gratiam obtinuit, Consulaii 
matrknonio subnixa, et apud Galbain, Othonem, Vitellium 
Jnlaesa: mox potens pecunia et orbitate, quae bonis malis- 
que temporibus juxta valent. 

LXX1V. Crebrae interim, et muliebribus blandimentis 
infectae, ab Othone ad Vitellium epistolae, offerebant fc pe- 
' cuniam et gratiam et quemcumque quietis locum prodi- 
6 gag vitae legisset.' Paria Vitellius ostentabat, primo mol- 
lius, stulta utrimque et indecora simulatione : mox, quasi 
rixantes, stupra et flagitia invicem objectavere, neuter fal- 
so. Otho, revocatis, quos Galba miserat, legatis, rursus 
alios ad utrumque Germanicum exercitum et ad legionem 
Italicam easque, quae Lugduni agebant. copias, specie sena- 
tus misit. Legati apud Vitellium remansere, promptius, 
quam ut retenti viderentur. Praetoriani, quos, per simula- 
tionem officii, legatis Otho adjunxerat, remissi, antequam 
legionibus miscerentur. Addit epistolas Fabius Valens, no- 
mine Germanici exercitus, ad Praetorias et urbanas cohor- 
tes, de viribus partium magnificas et concordiam offerentes. 
Increpabat ultro, ' quod tanto ante traditum Vitellio impe- 
! rium ad Othonem vertissent.' 

LXXV. Ita promissis simul ac minis tentabantur ; c ut 
4 bello impares, in paci nihil amissuri :' neque ideo Praeto- 
rianorum fides mutata. Sed insidiatores ab Othone in Ger- 
maniam, a Vitellio in urbem missi : utrisque frustra fuit : 
Vitellianis inpune, per tantam hominum multitudinem, mu- 
tua ignorantia fallentibus : Othoniani, novitate vultus, omni- 
bus invicem ignaris, (j) prodebantur. Vitellius litteras ad 
Titianum, fratrem Othonis, composuit, ' exitium ipsi filio- 
* que ejus,' minitans, ' ni incolumes sibi mater ac liberi 
4 servarentur.' Et stetit domus utraque : sub Othone, 
incertum an metu : Vitellius victor clementiae gloriam 
tulit. 

LXXVI. Primus Othoni fiduciam addidit ex Illyrico nun- 
tius, ' jurasse in eum Dalmatian ac Pannoniae et Moesiae le- 
c giones.' Idem ex Hispania adlatum : laudatusque i per 
edictum CJuvius Rufus : et statim cognitum est, conversam 
ad Vitellium Hispaniam. Ne Aquitania quidem, quamquam 
a Julio Cordo in verba Othonis obstricta, diu mansit : nus- 
quam fides aut amor ; metu ac necessitate hue illuc muta- 

j Omnibus invicem ignaris, neither knowing any one, or being 
known. 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 41 

bantur. Eadem formido provinciam Narbonensem ad Vi- 
tellium vertit, facili transitu ad proximos et validiores. 
Longinquae provinciae, et quidquid armorum mari dirimitur, 
penes Othonem manebant : non partium studio ; sed erat 
gr inde momentum in nomine urbis ac praetextu Senatus : 
et occupaverat animos prior auditus. Judaicum exercitum 
Vespasianus, Syriae legiones Mucianus sacramento Othonis 
adegere. Simul zEgyptus omnesque versae in Orientem 
provinciae nomine ejus tenebantur. Idem Africae obse- 
quium, initio a Carthagine orto. Neque ^xspectata Vip- 
stani Aproniani, Proconsulis, auctoritate, Crescens, Nero* 
nis libertus (nam et hi malis temporibus partem se Reipub- 
licae faciunt) epulum plebi, ob laetitiam recentis Imperii, 
obtulerat, et populus pleraque sine modo festinavit. Car- 
thaginem, ceterae civitates secutae. 

LXXVIL Sic distractis exercitibus ac provinces, Vitel- 
lio quidem ad capessendam Principalis fortunam bello opus 
erat. Otho, ut in multa pace, munia Imperii obibat ; quae- 
dam ex dignitate Reipublicae, pleraque contra decus ex 
prassenti usu properando. Consul cum Titiano fratre in 
Kalendas Martias ipse : (k) proximos menses Verginio des- 
tinat, ut aliquod exercitui Germanico delinimentum. Jun- 
gitur Verginio Poppaeus Vopiscus, praetextu veteris ami- 
citiae ; plerique, Viennensium honori datum, interpretaban- 
tur, Ceteri Consulatus ex destinatione Neronis aut Galbae 
mansere, Caelio aut Flavio Sabinis in Julias, Arrio Antoni- 



k The number of Consuls in this eventful year was so great, that 
it will not be useless to place the list in one view before the eye of 
the reader : 

A. U. C. 822. Consuls. 

On the Calends of January, < Galba, 
Hist. i. s. 1. ( Vinius. 

Calends of March, ( Salvius Otho, 

Hkt. i. s. 77. I Titianus Otho. 
Calends of May, ( Verginius Rufus, 
Hist. i. s. 77. ( Pompeius Vopiscus, 
Calends of July, i Caelius Sabinus, 
-Hist. i. s. 77. I Flavius Sabinus. 
Calends of September, < Arrius Antoninus, 

Hist. i. s 77. ( VTarcus Celsus. 

Calends of November, < Fabius Valens, 
Hist. ii. s. 1. ( Alienus CaBcina. 

Caecina being pronounced a traitor by the Senate, on the day be- 
fore the Calends of January, A U. C. 823, the consul for a single 
day was Rosius Regulus. Hist iii. s. 37, 



42 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. u. c. 82f. 

no et Mario Celso in Septembres : quorum honori ne Vi- 
tellius quidom victor intercessit. Sed Gtho Pontificatus 
Auguratusque honoratis jam senibus cumulum dignitatis (/) 
addidit : et recens ab exsilio reverses nobiles adolescen- 
tulos avitis ac paternis Sacerdotiis, in solatium, recoluit 
Redditus Cadio Rufo, Pedio Blaeso, Sevino Pomtino Sena- 
torius locus ; repetundarum criminibus sub Claudio ac 
Nerone ceciderant : placuit ignoscentibus, verso nomine, 
quod avaritia fuerat, videri majestatem : cujus turn odio 
etiam bonae leges peribant. (m) 

LXXY1II. Eadem largitione civitatum quoque ac pro- 
Tinciarum animos adgressus, Hispaliensibus et Emeritensi- 
bus (ft) familiarum adjectiones, Lingonibus universis civi- 
tatem Romanam, provincial Raeticae Maurorum civitates 
dono dedit : nova jura Cappadociae, nova Africae, ostentui 
magis, quam mansura. Inter quae, necessitate praesentium 
rerum et instantibus curis excusata, ne turn quidem inme- 
mor amorum, statuas Poppaeas per Senatus consultum 
reposuit. Creditus est etiam de celebranda Neronis me- 
moria agitavisse, spe vulgum adliciendi : et fuere, qui 
imagines Neronis proponerent : atque etiam Othoni qui- 
busdam diebus populus et miles, tamquam nobilitatem ac 
decus adstruerent, NERONI OTHONI adclamavit. Ipse 
in suspenso tenuit, vetandi metu, vel agnoscendi pudore. 

LXXIX. Conversis ad civile bellum animis, externa sine 
cura habebantur. Eo audentius Rhoxolani, Sarmatica gens, 
(o) priore hieme caesis duabus cobortibus, magna spe ad 
Moesiam (p) inruperant : novem millia equitum, ferociora 



I Cumulum dignitatis. These words are in apposition with pon- 
tificatus and auguratus. 

m The idea here is this ; the real offence was suppressed, and 
what was, in fact, public rapine, in the style of the pardon, took the , 
name of violated majesty ; a charge held in sugIi detestation, that to 
elude it, the best and wisest laws were set aside. 

n Hispalis, a town of Bcetica, in Farther Spain ; now Seville. 
Emerita, a city of Spain ; now Merida. 

o Sarmatia called also Scythia, was a northern country of vast 
extent, and divided into Europaa and Asiatica ; the former begin- 
ning at the Vistula, (its western boundary) and comprising Russia, 
part of Poland, Prussia and Lithuania ; and the latter bounded on 
the west by Sarmatia Europaea and the Tanais (the Don) extending 
south as far as mount Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, containing 
Tartary, Circassia, &c. 

V Mtzsia } a district of ancient Illyricum ; now called Bulgaria 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 4<* 

successu et praedae magis quam pugnae intenta. Igitur va- 
gos et incuriosos tertia legio, acijunctis auxiliis, repente 
iavasit :«apud Romanos omnia proelio apta : Sarmatae, dis- 
persi cupidine praedae, aut graves onere sarcinarum, et 
ludibrio itinerum aaempta equorum pernicitate, velut vincti 
caedebantur. Namque mirum dictu, ut sit omnis Sarmata- 
rum virtus velut extra ipsos : nihil ad pedestrem pugnam 
tarn ignavum : ubi per turmas advenere, vix ulla acies ob- 
stiterit. Sed turn humido die et soluto gelu neque conti, 
neque gladii, quos praelongos utraque manu regunt, usui, 
lapsantibus equis et cataphractarum pondere. Id Principi- 
bus et nobilissimo cuique tegmen, ferreis laminis aut prae- 
duro corio consertum : ut ad versus ictus inpenetrabile, ita 
inpetu hostium provolutis inhabile ad resurgendum : simul 
altitudine et mollitia nivis hauriebantur. Romanus miles 
facili lorica (q) et missili pilo aut lanceis adsultans, ubi res 
posceret, levi gladio inermem Sarmatam (neque enim de- 
fendi scuto mos est) cominus fodiebr.t : donee pauci, qui 
prcelio superfuerant, paludibus abderentur : ibi saevitia 
hiemis et vi vulnerum absumpti. Postquam id Romae 
compertum, M. Aponius Moesiam obtinens, triumphali 
statua, Fulvius Aurelius et Julianus Titius ac Numisius Lu- 
pus, Legati legionum, consularibus ornamentis donantur : 
laeto Othone et gloriam in se trahente, ' t am quam et ipse 
1 felix bello, et suis Ducibus suisque exercitibus Rempub- 
licam auxisset.' 

LXXX, Parvo interim initio, imde nihil timebatur, orta 
seditio* prope urbi excidio fait- Septimam decimam cohor- 
tem, e colonia Ostiensi in urbem acciri Otho jusserat : ar- 
mandae ejus cura Vario Crispino, Tribuno e Praetorianis, 
data. Is, quo magis vacuus, quietis castris, jussa exsequere- 
tur, vehicula cohortis, incipiente nocte, onerari, aperto ar- 
mamentario, jubet : tempus in suspicionem ; caussa in 
crimen ; (r) adfectatio quietis in tumultum evaluit : et visa 
inter temulentos arma cupidinem sui movere. Fremit 
miles, et Tribunos Centurionesque ' proditiomV arguit, 
1 tamquam familias Senatorum ad perniciem Othonis arma- 
rental*:' pars ignari et vino graves: pessimus quisque in 
occasionem praedaium : vulgus, ut mos est cujuscunque 

q Facili lorica. Li^ht breast plate. 

r Causa in crimen. Crispin us told them that he took out the arr&s 
by order of the Emperor, to arm the cohort. 



44 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 821. 

motus novi cupidum : et obsequia meliorum nox abstule- 
rat: resistentem seditioni Tribunum et severissimos Cen- 
turionum obtruncant : rapta arma, nudati gladii, insidentes 
equis urbem ac palatium petunt. 

LXXXI. Erat Othoni celebre convivium, primoribus 
feminis virisque : qui trepidi, fortuitusne militum furor, an 
dolus Imperatoris, inanere ac deprehendi, an fugere ac 
dispergi, periculosius foret ; modo constantiam simulare, 
modo formidine detegi, simul Othonis vullum intueri : uique 
evenit, inclinatis ad suspicionem mentibus, cum timeret Otho, 
timebatur. Sed hand secus discrimine Senatus, quam suo 
territus, et Praefectos Praetorii ad mitigandas militum iras sta- 
tim miserat, et ' abire propere omnes e convivio' jussit. 
Turn vero passim Magistratus, projectis insignibus, vitata co- 
mitum et servorum frequentia, senes feminaeque, per tene- 
bras, divers i urbis itinera, rari domos, plurimi amicorum tec- 
ta, et, ut cinque Iramillimus cliens, incertas latebras petivere. 

LXXXI1. Militum inpetus ne foribus quiclem palatii 
coerciius, quo nanus convivium inrumpf rent, fc ostendi sibi 
6 Othonem' expostulates: vulnerato Julio Martiale, Tri- 
buno, et Vitellio S iturnino, Praefecto legionis, dum ruen- 
tibus obsistunt. Undique arma et minae, modo in Centu- 
riones Tribunosque, modo in Senium universum : lym- 
phatis caeco pavore anirnis, et, quia neminem unum desti- 
nare irae poterant, licentiam in omnes poscentibus : donee 
Otho, contra decus Imperii, thoro insistens, precibus et 
lacrymis aBgre cohibuit : redieruntque in castra inviti, 
neque innocentes. Postera die, velut capta urbe, clausae 
domus : rarus per vias populus ; moesta plebs ; dejocti 
in terram militum vultus. ac plus tristitiae, quam poeniten- 
tiae. Manipulating adlocuti sunt Licinius Proculus et Plo- 
tius Firmus, Praefecti, ex suo quisque ingenio mitius tjut 
horridius. Finis sermonis in eo, ut quina millia nurm.um 
singulis militibus numerarentur. Turn Olbo in^redi castra! 
ausus : atque ilium Tribuni Centurionesque circumsistunt, 
abjectis militiae insignibus. ' otiurri et salutem' flagitantes. 
Sensit invidiam miles, et compositus in obsequium, ' auc- 
i tores seditionis ad supplicium' ultro postulabat. 

LXXXIII. Otho, quamquam turbidis rebus et diverts 
militum animis, cum optimus quisque i remedium prae-en- 
1 tis licentiae' posceret ; vulgus et plures, seditionibus et 
ambitioso Imperio laeti, par turbas et raptus faciliu^ ad 
civile bellum inpellerentur : simul reputans, non posse 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 45 

Principatum, scelere quaesitum, subita modestia et prisca 
gravitate retineri : sed discrimine urbis, et periculo 
Senatus anxius, postremo ita disseruit : ' Neque lit adfec- 
' tus vestros in amorem mei accenderem, commilitones, 
e neque ut animum ad virtutem cohortarer (utraque enim 
; egrcgie supersunt) sed veni postulaturus a vobis tem- 
** pen\mentum vestras fortitudinis, et erga me modum ca- 
4 ritatis. Tumultus proximi initium, non cupiditate vel 
: odio, quae raultos exercitus in discordiam egere, ac ne 
( detrectatione quidem aut formidine periculorum : nimia 
€ pietas vestra, acrius quam consideratius, excitavit. Nam 
6 saepe honestas rerum caussas, ni judicium adhibeas, per- 
€ niciosi exitus consequuntur. Imus ad bellum : num om- 
4 nes nuntios palam audiri, omnia consilia cunctis praesen- 
4 tibus tractari, ratio rerum a*ut occasionum velocitas pa- 
4 titur? tarn nescire quaedam milites, quam scire, oportet. 
i Ita se Ducum auctoritas, sic rigor disciplinae habet, ut 
6 multa etiam Centuriones Tribunosque tantum juberi ex- 

* pediat. Si, ubi jubeantur, quaerere singulis liceat, pe- 
6 reunte obsequio etiam imperium intercidit. An et illic 

* nocte intempesta rapientur arma? unus alterve perditus 
1 ac temulentes (neque enim plures consternatione proxi- 
1 ma insanisse crediderim) Centurionis ac Tribuni san- 
6 guine manusinbuet? Imperatoris sui tentorium inrumpet? 

LXXXIV. ' Vos quidem istud pro me : (s) sed in dis- 
6 cursu ac tenebris et rerum omnium confusione patefieri 
6 occasio etiam adversus me potest. Si Vitellio et satelli- 
' tibus ejus eligendi facultas detur, quern nobis animum, 

* quas mentes inprecentur, quid aliud, quam seditionem et 
4 discordiam, optabunt ? ne miles Centurioni, ne Centurio 
1 Tribuno obsequatur : hinc confusi, pedites equitesque, 

* in exitium ruamus. Parendo potius, commilitones, quam 
■\ imperia Ducum sciscitando, res militares continentur: (t) 
' et fortissimus in ipso discrimine exercitus est, qui ante 

* discrimen quietissimus. Vobis arma et animus sit : 

* mihi consilium et virtutis vestrae regimen relinquite. 

* Paucorum culpa fuit, duorum poena erit : ceteri abolete 

* memoriam fcedissimae noctis : nee illas adversus Sena- 



s Pro me, You did this on my account ; vos is nominative to some 
verb understood, perhaps ausi estis. 

t This rule of military subordination stands confirmed by experience 
in every age and country. 

6 



46 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 821. 

' turn voces ullus unquam exercitus audiat. Caput Imperii, 
c et decora omnium provinciarum, ad pcenam vocare, non 
< hercle illi, quos cum maxime Vitellius in nos ciet, Ger- 
f mani audeant. Ulli ne Italiae alumni, et Romana vere 
' juventus, ad sanguinem et caedent deposcerent ordinem, 
c cujus splendore et gloria sordes et obscuritatem Vitel- 

* lianarum partium pra3stringimus ? Nationes aliquas oc- 

* cupavit Vitellius, imaginem quandam exercitus habet : 
1 Senatus nobiscum est. Sic fit, ut hinc Respublica, inde 

* host^s Reipublicge constiterint. Quid ? vos pulcherri- 

* mam hanc urbem domibus et tectis et congestu lapidum 

* stare creditis ? Muta ista et inanima intercidere ac re- 
c parari promiscua sunt : aeternitas rerum et pax gen- 

* lium et mea cum vestra salus incolumitate Senatus fir- 
c matur. Hunc auspicato a parente et conditore urbrs 
' nostras institutum, et a Regibus usque ad Principes, con- 
6 tinuum et inmortalem, sicut a majoribus accepimus, sic 
c posteris tradamus. Nam, ut ex vobis Senalores, ita ex 
c Senatoribus Principes nascuntur.' 

LXXXV, Ea oratio ad perstringendos mulcendosque 
militum animos, et severitatis modus (neque enirn in plu- 
res, quam in duos animadverti jusserat) grate accepta, 
compositique ad prsesens, qui coerceri non poterant. 
Non tamen quies urbi redierat : strepitus telorum et facies 
belli erat : militibus, ut nihil in commune turbitantibus, 
ita sparsis per domos, occulto habitu, et maligna cura in 
omnes, quos nobilitas aut opes aut aliqua insignis claritudo 
rumoribas objecerat. Vitellianos quoque milites renisse 
in urbem ad studia partium noscenda, plerique credebant. 
Unde plena omnia suspicionum, et vix secreta domuum 
sine formidine. Sed plurimum trepidationis in publico. 
Ut quemque nuntium fama adtulisset, animum vultum- 
, que conversi, ne diffidere dubiis ac parum gaudei;e 
prosperis viderentur. (?j) Coacto vero in curiam Se- 
natu, arduus rerum omnium modus, ne contumax si- 
lentium, ne suspecta libertas. Et privato Othoni nuper, 
atque eadem dicenti, nota adulatio. Igitur versare sen- 
tentias, et hue atque illuc torquere. ' hostem et parrici- 
€ dam' Vitellium vocantes : providentissimus quisqtie vul- 

u Ut quemque, etc. Whatever was the rumour of the day, all de- 
gree* and ranks were obliged to set their faces for the occasion : if 
bad, they were afraid of seeming to. despond; and, if propitious, un^ 
willing to be thought backward in demonstrations of joy. 



j. c. 68. HISTOR. LIB. PRIMUS. 47 

garibus conviciis ; quidam vera probra jacere, in clamore 
tamen et ubi plurimae voces, aut tumultu verborum sibi 
ipsi obstrepentes. 

LXXXVI. Prodigia insuper terrebant, diversis auctori- 
bus vulgata. ' In vestibulo capitolii omissas habenas bigae, 
1 cui Victoria institerat : erupisse cella Junonis majortm 
' humana speciem : statuam divi Julii in insula Tiberini 
' amnis, (r) sereno et inmoto die, ab Occidente in Orien- 
* tern conversam : prolocutum in Etruria bovem : insoli- 
6 tos animalium partus :' et plura alia, rudibus saeculis 
etiam in pace obseiTata, quse nunc tantum in metu aucliun- 
tur. Sed praecipuus et cum praesenti exitio etiam futuri 
pavor, subita inundatione Tiberis : qui inmenso auctu, 
proruto ponte sublicio, (w) ac strage obstantis molis refusus, 
non modo jacentia et plana urbis loca, seel secura ejusmodi 
casuutn inplevit. Rapti e publico plerique, plures in ta- 
bernis et cubilibus intercept!. Fames in vulgus, inopia 
quaestus et penuria alimentorum. Conrupta stagnantibus 
aquis insularum (x) fundamenta, deiu, remeante flumine, 
dilapsa. Utque primum vacuus a periculo animus fuit, id 
ipsum, quod paranti expeditionem Othoni, campus Martius 
et via Flaminia, iter belli esset obstructum a fortuitis vel 
naturalibus caussis, in prodigium et omen inminentium cla- 
dium vertebatur. 

LXXXVII. Otho, lustrata urbe, et expensis belli con- 
siliis, quando Peninas Cottiaeque Alpes et ceteri Galliarum 
aditus Vitellianis exercitibus claudebantur, Narbonensem 
Oalliam adgredi statuit ; classe valida et partibus fida, quod 
reliquos caesorum ad pontem Milvium, et saevitia Galbae in 
custodiam habitos, in numeros legionis composuerat ; facta 
et ceteris spe honoratioris in posterum militias. Addidit 
classi urbanas cohortes et plerosque e Prastorianis, vires 
et robur exercitus, atque ipsis Ducibus consilium et cus- 
todes. Summa expeditionis Antonio Novello, Suedio Cle- 
menti, primipilaribus, iEmilio Pacensi, cui ademptum a 
Galba Tribunatum reddiderat, permissa. Curam navium 
Oscus libertus retinebat, ad observandam honestiorum fidem 
comitatus. Peditum equitumque copiis Suetonius Paulli- 

v The Isle in the Tiber, now called Isold di St. Bartolemeo. 

w The Sublician Bridge, so called, because built of wood. A 
foundation of solid marble was afterwards laid, but nothing remains 
at present except the ruins. 

x Insularum. blocks of buildings, surrounded on every side bv 
streets'. 



4B C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 821. 

nus, Marius Celsus, Annius Gallus, rectores destinati. Sed 
plurirna fides Licinio Proculo, Praetorii Praefecto : is ur- 
banae militias inpiger, bellorum insolens, auctoritatem Paul- 
lini, vigorem Celsi, maturitatem Galli, ut cuique erat, 
erirninando, quod facillimum factu est, pravus et callidus, 
bonos et modestos anteibat. 

LXXXVIII. Sepositus per eos dies Cornelius Dolabella 
in coloniam Aquinatem, (?/) neque arcta custodia, neque 
obscura : nullum ob crimen, sed vetusto nomine et pro- 
pinquitate Galbae monstratus. Muitos e Magistratibus^ 
magnam consularium partem, Otho, non participes aut mi- 
nistros bello, sed comitum specie, secum expedire jubet : 
in quis et L. Vitellium, eodem quo ceteros cultu, nee ut 
Imperatoris fratrem, nee ut hostis. Igitur mota urbis 
cura : nullus ordo metu aut periculo vacuus: primores 
Senatus aetate invalidi et longa pace desides : segnis et 
oblita bellorum nobilitas ; ignarus militiae Eques : quanta 
magis occultare et abdere pavorem nitebantur, manifestius 
pavidi. Nee deerant e contrario, qui ambitione stolida, 
Qonspicua arma, insignes equos, quidam luxuriosos adpa- 
ratus conviviorum et inritamenta libidinum, ut instrumenta 
belH, mercarentur. Sapientibus quietis et Reipublicae 
cura : levissimus quisque et futuri inprovidus, spe vana 
tumens : mu^i adflicta fi 7 e (z) in pace, ac turbatis rebus 
alacres 5 et per incerta tutissimi. 

LXXXIX. Sed vulgus, et magnitudine nimia commu- 
niurn curnrum expers populus, sentire paullatim belli mala, 
converse in militum usum omni pecunia, intentis a4imento- 
ruin pretiis : quae, motu Vindicis, haud perinde plebem 
adtriverant, secura turn urbe et provinciali bello, quod in- 
ter legiones Galliasque velut externum fuit. Nam, ex 
quo Divus Augustus res Caasarum composuit, procul, et in 
unius sollicitudinem aut decus, Populus Romanus bellave- 
rat. Sub Tiberio et Caio, tantum pacis adversa in Rem- 
publicam pertinuere. Scriboniani contra Claudium in- 
cepta simul audita et coercita. Nero nuntiis magis et ru- 
moribus, quam armis depulsus. Turn legiones classesque, 
et, quod raro alias, Praetorianus urbanusque miles in aciem 
deducti : Oriens Occidensque et quidquid utrimque virium 
est, a tergo : si ducibus aliis bellatum foret, longo bello 

y Aquinatem. Aquinum was a town of the ancient Latins ; now 
called Aquino. 
s MvUi adflictafide. bankrupts in fame and fortune . 



J. c. 66. H1ST0R. LIB. PRIMUS. 49 

materia. Fuere, qui proiiciscenti Othoni moras ' religio- 
nemque nondum conditorum ancilium,' (a) adferrent. Ad- 
spernatus est oranem cunctationem, ut Neroni quoque 
exitiosam : et Caecinajam Alpes transgressus, exstimulabat. 
XC. Pridie Idus Martias, commendata Patribus Repub- 
lica reliquias Neronianarum sectionum, nondum in fiscum 
conversas, revocatis ab exsilio concessit : (6) justissimum 
donum et in speciera magnificum, sed, festinata jam pri- 
dem exactione, usu sterile. Mox vocata concione, ' ma- 
* jestatem urbis et consensum Populi ac Senatus pro se* 
adtollens, adversum Vitellianas partes modeste disseruit : 
' inscitiam potius legionum, quam audaciam,' increpans, 
nulla Vitellii mentione : sive ipsius ea moderatio, seu 
scriptor orationis, sibi metuens, contumeliis in Vitellium 
abstinuit : quando, ut in consiliis militiae, Suetonio Paullino 
et Mario Celso, ita in rebus urbanis Galerii Trachali in- 
genio Othonem uti credebatur : et erant, qui genus ipsum 
orandi noscerent, crebro fori usu celebre, et ad inplendas 
aures latum et sonans. Clamor vocesque vuigi, ex more 
adulandi, nimia3 et falsae : quasi Dictatorem Cassareii), aut 
Imperatorem Augustum prosequerentur, ita studiis votisque 
certabant : nee metu aut amore, sed ex libidine servi- 
tii, (c) ut in familiis, privata cuique stimulatio et vile jam 
decus publicum. Profectus Otho, quietem urbis curasque 
Imperii Salvio Titiano fratri permisit. 

a Numa, the founder of religious ceremonies among the Romans, 
made them believe, that as long as they preserved the celestial arms 
called Ancilia, which, he said, were sent down by the gods, Rome 
would prove invincible, and triumph over all her enemies. Ac- 
cordingly we read in Livy, that the procession of the Salian priests, on 
stated days, attended the Ancilia with song and dance through the 
streets of Rome. See book 1, s. 20. This institution was neglected 
by Otho. 

b Nero had squandered immense sums in gifts to his favourites. 
After the accession of Galba, they were ordered to restore nine-tenths 
of this to the public Treasury. Otho now gave whatever of this 
property, which had not reached the Treasury, to those who were 
recalled from exile. 

c Ex libidine servitii, from mere servility. 

Otho left the city of Rome on the 24th day of March, as appears 
from Suetonius, who mentions his neglect of the institutions relative 
to the Ancilia, as an inauspicious beginning of the war. Suetonius 
adds, that he set out on the day when all who paid their worship to 
the mother of the gods, began the usual ceremonies. 

That day was the 9th of the Calends of April, which answers to the 
24th of March. 

6* 



THE 

HISTORY 



OF 



TACITUS 

BOOK II. 



CONTENTS- 
BOOK II. 

J. Titus sent by his father Vespasian, to congratulate Galba, hears 
of that emperor's death, and stops at Corinth. He resolves tore- 
turn to Syria, and sails to Rhodes and Cyprus. At last he visits 
the temple of the Paphian Venus. Some account of the goddess, 
and the rites of worship. He lands in Syria. V. Character of 
Vespasian, and of Mucianus. They lay aside their mutual ani- 
mosities and act in concert. The legions of the East, resolved to 
have a share in the making of emperors. VIII. A counterfeit 
Nero detected and seized. X. From trivial matters, great discord 
at Rome. Vibius Crispus accuses Annius Faustus, an informer, 
and procures his condemnation, though hated himself for the same 
practices. XI. An account of Otho's forces. XII. His fleets com- 
mand the sea, extending to the maritime Alps. The city of Inte- 
melium sacked and plundered by the Othonians. The exemplary 
'courage of a mother in the protection of her son. XIV. Otho's 
fleet infests the coast of Narbon Gaul. An engagement with 
the Vitellians in that quarter, in which the Othonians have the ad- 
vantage. XVI. Pacarius, the governor of Corsica, favours the 
cause of Vitellius, and is murdered. XVII. Csecina, with the V$- 



C. CORN. TAC. HIST. LIB. SECUNDUS. 5i 

tellian forces, enters Italy, and besieges Placentia. Spurinna, one 
of Otho^s officers, defends the place. Caecina raises the siege, and 
retires with his army to Cremona. A battle at that place, and the 
Othonians prove victorious. Valens enters Italy. Caecina resolves 
to strike a blow before the arrival of that general. He lays a snare 
for the Othonians, but is defeated by Suetonius Paulinus, at a place 
called Castorum. King Epiphanes, on Otho's side, is wounded. 
XXVII. Valens arrives at Ticinum. A violent sedition is occasioned 
by the Batavians. Valens joins the army under Caecina. XXXI. 
Comparison of Otho and Vitellius. Otho holds a council to deliberate 
on the plan of the war. Some are for delay ; others for immediate 
action. Otho is for a decisive blow, and, by advice, retires to Brix- 
ellum. XXXIV. Caecina and Valens wait for the motions of the 
enemy. A bridge thrown over the Po to amuse Otho's forces, who 
are worsted in a skirmish. XXXVII. A report that both armies 
were inclined to peace, shown to be highly improbable. XXXIX, 
Titianus, Otho's brother, and Proculus, the praefect of the praeto- 
rian bands intrusted with the chief command. They encamp with* 
in four miles of Bedriacum. Otho, by dispatches from Brixellum, . 
hurries them on to an engagement. XL. The battle of Bedriacum. 
The Othonians defeated, and the next day lay down their arms. 
The Vitellians enter the camp, and both armies embrace with tears 
of joy. XLV. Otho is weary of civil war, and though the soldiers 
are still devoted to his cause, resolves to prevent a further eftusion 
of blood ; he falls on his own sword. His funeral immediately per- 
formed ; some of the men slay themselves near the funeral pile. 
L. Otho's origin and character. LI. A mutiny among the soldiers. 
Verginius in danger from their fury. LII. A great part of the Se- 
nate, who had followed Otho, involved in danger. LV. Tran- 
quility prevails at Rome. The games in honour of Ceres cele- 
brated according to custom. Olio's death made known in the 
theatre: the people declare for Vitellius with shouts of applause. 
LVI. Italy ravaged by the Vitellians. LVII. Vitellius ad- 
vances towards Italy, and hears of the victory gained by his offi- 
cers. The two Tauritanias declare in his favour; x\lbinus, their 
governor, cut off by the emissaries of Cluvius Rufus, w T ho had pass- 
ed over from Spain into Africa. LX. Vitellius orders the bravest 
of Otho's centurions to be put to death. The wild attempt of 
Mariccus in Gaul. In a fit of enthusiasm, he calls himself a god i 
he is taken and put to death. LXII. The gluttony of Vitellius : 
Italy exhausted to supply his voracious appetite. In his dispatches 
to Rome, he declines for the present, the name of Augustus, and 
wholly rejects that of Caesar. The judicial astrologers banished 
from Italy. Laws for restraining the Roman knights from appear- 
ing on the stage, or in the games of the circus. LXIII. Dolabella 
put to death treacherously by VitelLus. The furious temper of 
Triaria, the wife of L. Vitellius, and the amiable character of his 
mcrher Sextilia. LXV. Cluvius Rufus arrives from Spain, and is 
pardoned by Vitelline. The vanquished troop? still retam their 
ferocity. A quarrel between the Batavians and the soldiers of the 
fourteenth legion. LXVIII. A violent sedition at Ticinum, while 
'Vitellius carouses at a feast. LXX. Vitellius proceeds to Cremfc* 



-52 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. e. 82£, 

* na, and views the field of battle at Bedriacum, which was still co- 
vered with a dreadful carnage. He vies with the luxury of K ero, 
and marches to Bononia, still plunging into deeper debauchery as 
he draws near to Rome. LXXII. A slave, of the name of Geta, 
assumes the name of Scribonianus : he is detected and put to cieatli 
by order of Vitellius. LXXIV. Deliberations held in the east by 
Vespasian and Vtucianus. The speech of Mucianus on the occa- 
sion. LXXVII. Vespasian encouraged by the responses of oracles. 
His consultation on Mount Carmel. LXXIX. Vespasian is declar- 
ed Emperor, first in Egypt, and afterwards by the army in Syria. 
LXXXI. The kings Sohemus, Antiochus and Agrippa, as also queen 
Berenice, enter into the league. LXXXlI. Plan of the war : Ves- 
pasian holds Egypt in his possession : his son Titus carries on the 
war against the Jews : Mucianus sets out on his march towards Ita- 
ly. LXXXV. The legions in xMoesia, Pannonia, and Dalmatia, re- 
volt to Vespasian, at the instigation of Antonius Primus and Corne- 
lius Fuscus. LXXXVII. Vitellius, at the head of a prodigious 
multitude debauched by luxury, enters the city of Rome. XC. 
He makes a speech in pompous terms, celebrating his own praise. 
His conduct there. XCII. Caecina and Valens carry on the admi- 
nistration. Sloth, riot, and mortality among the soldiers. Vitel- 
lius in want of money, and yet prodigal beyond measure. Asiati- 
cus, his freedman, amasses enormous wealth. XC V. The people 
distressed, and yet the birth-day of Vitellius celebrated with pomp 
and profusion. The Emperor performs the funeral obsequies of 
Nero. Rumours of a revolt in the East ineffectually suppressed. 
Vitellius sends for succours into Spain, Germany and Britain, but 
endeavours to disguise the necessity. XCIX. Parties of the enemy 
advance into Italy. Csscina and Valens ordered to take the field. 
Caecina's treachery : he combines with Lucilius Bassus, the com- 
mander of the fleets at Ravenna and Misenum. 

These transactions passed in a few months after the death of Galba 5 
and Vinius, his colleague in the consulship. 



fear of Rome. 


Of Christ. 


Consuls. 


822 


69 


M. Salvius Otho, 
L. Salvius Otho. 



L. Verginius Rufus, > 
Pompeius Vopiseus. y 
Coelius Sabinus, ) 
T. Flavius Sabinus. £ 
T. Arrius Antoninus, > 
P. Marius Celsus. J 



~*3$$$&~ 



Struebat jam Fortuna, in diversa parte terrarum initia 
eaussasque Imperio, quod varia sorte, laetnm Reipuhlicae 
aut atrox, ipsis Principibus prosperum, aut exitio fuit. (a) 

a Tacitus says, that fortune was then laying the foundation of a 
new imperial house, which proved to be both beneficial and disas"- 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 63 

Titus Vespasianus e Jur'aea, incolumi adhuc Galba, missus a 
patre, caussam profectionis ' officios* erga Principem et 

* maturam petendis honoribus juveiitajqa' ferebat. (6) Sed 
vulgus fingendi avidum disperserat, ( accitum in adoptionem :' 
materia sermonibus, senium et orbiias Princtpis et intem- 
perantia civitatis, donee unus eligatur, multos destinmdi. 
Augebat famam ipsius Titi iugenium, qu ntaecumque fortu- 
nae capax, decor oris cum quadam maj estate, prospers Ves- 
pasiani res, praesaga responsa, (c) et, inclinatis ad creden- 
dum animis, loco ominum etiam fbrtuita. Ubi Corinthi, 
Achaias urbe certos nuntios accepit de interitu Galbae, et 
aderant, qui arma Vitellii bellumque adfirmarent, anxius 
animo, paucis amicorum adhibitis, cuncta utrinique perlus- 
trat. 'Si pergeret in urbem, nullam officii gratiam, in 
** al terms honorem suscepti : ac seVitellio, sive Othoni, 
a obsidem fore Sin rediret, oiTensam baud dubiarn vk\o- 

* ris : sed incerta adhuc victoria, et concedentc ir ? 

* patre, filium excusatum. Sin Vespasianus Rempubiicam 

* susciperet, obliviscendum offensarum de bello agitan- 

* tibus.' 

II. His ac talibus inter spem metumque jactatum, spes 
vicit. Fuere, qui, ' accensum desiderio Berenices Regi- 
i nas, (d) vertisse iter' crederent. Neque abhorrebat a 
Berenice juvenilis animus : sed gerendis rebus nullum ex 
eo impedimentum : laetam voluptatibus adolescentiam egh% 
suo quam patris imperio moderatior. Igitur oram Achaiae 
et Asiae, ac laeva maris praevectus, Rhodum et Cyprum in- 



trous to the people, and also to the very family that was raised to 
that pre-eminence. 

This is perfectly clear, when we consider, that Rome was happy 
under Vespasian and Titus, but groaned under Domitian, till the ty* 
rant was destroyed, and the Flavian line was extinguished. 

b Titus, at this time, was in his twenty-eighth year. By the fa- 
vour of Narcissus, he was educated in the palace with Britannicus, the 
son of Claudius. The prince, then destined by his father to succeed 
to the empire, was cut off by the villany of Nero ; and Titus, whose 
elevation was not then foreseen, lived to be the delight of the Roman 
people. 

c Suetonius says, that Narcissus consulted a fortune-teller about 
the destiny of Britannicus : the answer was unfavourable to the 
young Prince, but assured Titus that he was born to the imperial 
dignity. 

d Berenice wa3 sister to Agrippa II, and wife of Herod, king of 
Qhaldis in Syria. 



54 G. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

sulas, inde Syriam, audentioribus spatiis petebat. (e) At- 
que ilium cupido incessit, adeundi visendique templum Pa- 
phia3 Veneris, inclytum per indigenas advenasque. (jf ) 
Haud fuerit longum, initia religionis, templi situm, formam 
Dea3, neque enim alibi sic habetur, paucis disserere. 

111. ' Conditorem ternpli Regem iErian' vetus memoria, 
quidam ' ipsius Deae nomen id' perhibent. Famarecenti- 
or tradit, ' a Cinyra sacratum templum, Deamque ipsam, 
€ conceptam mari, hue adpulsam. Sed scientiam artemque 
c Haruspicum accitam ; et Cilicem Tamiram intulisse : at- 
4 que ita pactum, ut familiae utriusque (§•) posteri caerimoni- 
' is praesiderent. 5 Mox, ne honore nullo Regium genus 
peregrinam stirpem antecelleret, ipsa, quam intulerant, 
scientia hospites cessere : tantum Cinyrades Sacerdos con- 
sulitur. Hostiae, ut quisque vovit, sed mares deliguntur. 
Certissima fides haedorum fibris. Sanguinem arae obfunde- 
re vetitum : precibus et igne puro altaria adolentur, nee 
ullis imbribus, quamquam in aperto, madescunt. Simula- 
crum Deae non efiigie humana : continuus orbis (h) latiore 



e When Titus no longer sails along the coast, but off to sea, Taci- 
tus calls it a bolder voyage, audentioribus spatiis ; an expression, 
which, in the present state of navigation, may provoke the smile of a 
mariner. The compass was not then invented, and men did not like 
to lose sight of the shore. 

/ At the town of Paphos, which stood on the western side of the 
isle of Cyprus, a temple was dedicated to Venus, The account of 
the rites and ceremonies, which Tacitus has given, has been considered 
by some critics, as an idle digression : but when it is considered that 
the history of superstition was not uninteresting to the Romans, this 
passage will not be thought improper. 

g Families utriusque^ 2. e. of Cyniras and Thamiras, Cyniras is 
said by Apollodorus, to have been one of the kings of Assyria. Tha- 
miras introduced the "science of augury, which was founded altogether 
upon deceit and fraud. Accordingly, we find that care was taken to 
keep it in the hands of two families, that the secret of the art might 
not transpire. 

h Continuus orbis, etc. A round figure, broad at the base, but 
growing small by degrees, till, like a cone, it lessens to a point. The 
worship paid to Venus, as the parent of the whole animal creation, 
was of ancient date, and known for ages to the Assyrians. The rude 
state of sculpture may, perhaps, account for the representation of the 
goddess, as described by Tacitus. Clemens of Alexandria, make3 
that observation. The statuary, he says, had not the skill to give the 
elegance of symmetry and proportion : he therefore left the form and 
g|elicacy of Venus to the imagination. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 55 

initio tenuem in ambit um, metae modo, exsurgens : et ratio 
in obscuro. 

IV. Titus, spectata opulentia donisque Regum, quaeque 
alia iaetum antiqmtatibus Graecorum genus incertas vc^us- 
tati adfingit, ' de navi^atione' prim urn consuliut. Postqia m 
* panui viam et mare prosp^rum' accepit de se per am- 
bages interrogat, caesis cou.piuribus hostiis. Sostratus 
(Sacerdotis id nomen erat) ubi laata et congruentia exta, 
magnisque consultis annutre Deam, videt, pauca in praesens 
et solita respondens, petito secreto, futura aperit. litus, 
aucto animo, ad patrem pervectus, suspensis provinciarum 
et exercituum mentibus, ingens rerum fiducia accessit. 
Prolligaverat belium Judaicum Vespasianus ; oppugnatione 
Hierosolymorum reliqua, (?') duro magis et arcluo opere, 
ob ingenium montis et pefvicaciam superstitionis, quam 
quo satis virium obsessis ad tolerandas necessitates supe- 
resset. Tres, ut supra memoravimus, ipsi Vespasiano le- 
giones erant, exercitag bello : quatuor Mucianus obtinebar 
in pace ; sed aemulatio et proximi exercitus gloria repule- 
rat segnitiam : quantum que illis roboris discnmina et labor, 
tantum bis vigoris addiderat integra quies et inexpertus belli 
labor: auxiPa utrique cohortium alarumque, et classes Re- 
gesque, ac nomen dispari f m i celebre. 

V. Vespasianus, acer militias, anteire agmen, locum cas- 
tris capere, noctu diuque consilio, ac, si res posceret, manu 
hostibus obniti : cibo iortuito, veste habituque vix a grega- 
rio milite discrepans : prorsus, si avaritia abesset, antiquis 
Ducibus par. Mucianurn e contrario magnilicentia et opes 
et cuncta privatum modum supergressa extollebant : apti- 
or sermoni, dispositu provisuque civilium rerum peri- 
tus : egregiura Principalis temperamentum, si, demp- 
tis utrinsque vitiis, solae virtutes miscerentur. Ceterum 
hie Syriae, ille Judaeas praspositus, vicinis provinciarum ad- 
ministrationibus, invidia discordes, exitu demum Neronis* 
positis odiis, in medium consuluere : primum per amicos : 
dein preecipua concordiae fides, Titus, prava certamina 
communi utilitate aboleverat : natura alque arte compositus 
adlicisndis etiam Muciani moribus. Tribuni Centurionesque 
et vulgus militum, industria, licentia, per virtutes, per vo- 
luptates, ut cuique ingenium, adsciscebaniur. 

i The rapid success of Vespasian had well ni^h ended the Jewish 
war. Jerusalem was the only place which held out. 



£6 C. CORK TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

VI. Antequam Titus adventaret, sacramentnrn Othonis 
aeceperat uterque exercitus, praecipitibus, ut adsolet, nun- 
tii-~, et tarda moie civuis belli, quod longa concordia quietus 
O.j-ns tunc primum parabat. Namque olim validissirna 
int3r se civium arma, in Italia Galliave, viribus Occidentis 
coepia. Et Porapeio, Cassio, Bruto, Antonio, quos cmnes 
tr in-s mare secutum est civile bellum, baud prosperi exitus 
fkeraat. Auditique saepius in Syria Judaeaque Caesares, 
quam inspecti. Nulla seditio legionum : tantum ad versus 
Parthos minae, (j) vario eventu. Et proximo civili bel- 
lo, (k) turbatis aliis, inconcussa ibi pax : dein fides erga 
Gaib >rn. Mox, ut, 4 Othonem ac Vitellium scelestis armis 
4 r s Romanas raptum ire,' vulgatum est, ne penes ceteros 
Imperii praemia, penes ipsos tantum sevitii necessitas es- 
set, fremere miles et vires suas circumspicere. Septem 
legiones statim et cum ingentibus auxiliis Syria Judaeaque : 
inde continua ^Egyptus duaeque legiones : hinc Cappado- 
cia Pontusque et quidquid castrorum Armeniis praete'ndi- 
tur. (I) Asia et ceterae provincial, nee virorum inopes et 
pecuniae opulentae : quantum, insularum mari cingitur, 
et parando interim bello secundum tutumque ipsummare. 

VII. Nonfallebat Duces impetus milittrm : sed, bellanti- 
bus aliis, placuit exspectari belli exitum : ' victores victos- 

* que numquam solida fide coalescere : nee referre, Vitel- 

* lium an Othonem superstitem Fortuna faceret. Rebus 

* secundis etiam egregios Duces insolescere : discordiam his, 
' ignaviam, luxuriem : et suismet vitiis alterum bello, alte- 

* rum victoria periturum.' Igitur arma in occasicnem dis- 
tulere, Vespasianus Mucianusque nuper, ceteri olim mixtis 
consiliis : optimus quisque amore ReipublicaB : multos riul- 
cedo praedarum stimulabat ; alios ambiguae domi res. Ita 
boni malique caussis diversis, studio pari, bellum omnes 
cupiebant. 

j The Parthians were originally a people from Scythia : in process 
of time, when their empire grew in strength, they became the grand 
rivals of the Romans. The overthrow of Crassus is well known. 
Both nations experienced alternate disasters in the course of their va- 
rious wars. 

k The last civil war was that between Vindex and Nero. 

I Cappadocia was a large territory of Asia Minor, between Cilicia 
and the Euxine Sea. Pontus was an extensive country of As.a Minor, 
tying between Bithynia and Paphlagonia. Armenia was a kingdom 
of Asia, having Albania and Iberia to the north, mount Taurus and 
Mesopotamia to the south. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. bl 

VIII. Sub idem tempus Achaia atque Asia falso exterri- 
tae, velut Nero adventaret : vario super exitu ejus rumore, 
eoque piuribus vivere eum fingentibus (m) credentibusque. 
Ceterorum casus conatusque in contextu operis dicemus : 
tunc servus e Ponlo, sive, ut alii tradidere, libertinus ex 
Italia, citharae et cantus peritus (unde illi, super similitudi- 
nem oris, propior ad fallendum fides) adjunctis desertori- 
bus, quos inopia vagos ingentibus promissis conruperat, 
mare ingreditur ; ac, vi tempestatum Cythnum insulam de- 
trusus et miiitum quosdam ex Oriente commeantium ad- 
scivit, vel abnuentes interfici jussit, et spoliatis negotiator!- 
bus mancipiorum valentissimum quemque armavit. Cen : 
turionemque Sisennam, dextras, concordiae insignia, Syria- 
ci exercitus nomine ad Praetorianos ferentem, variis arti- 
bus adgressus est : donee Sisenna, clam relicta insula, tre- 
pidus et vim metuens aufugeret : inde late terror, multis ad 
celebritatern nominis erectis, rerum novarum cupidine et 
odio prassentium. 

IX. Gliscentem in dies famam fors discussit. Galatiam 
ac Pamphyliam provincias Calpurnio Asprenati regendas 
Galba permiserat : datas e classe Misenensi duae triremes 
ad prosequendum, cum quibus Cythnum insulam tenuit, (n) 
Nee defuere, qui trierarchos nomine Neronis accirent : is 
in mcestitiam compositus, et ' fidem suorum quondam mili- 
' turn' invocans, ' ut eum in Syria (s)aut iEgypto sisterent,* 
orabat. Trierarchi nutantes, seu dola, 4 adloquendos sibi 
6 milites, et paratis omnium animisreversuros,' firmaverunt. 
Sed A«prenati cuncta ex fide nuntiata : cujus cohortatione 
expugnata navis, et interfectus quisquis ille erat. Corpus, 
insigne oculis comaque et torvitate vultus (t) in Asiam at- 
que inde Romam pervectum est. 

X. In civitate discordi et, ob crebras Principum mutatio- 
nes, inter libertatem ac licentiam incerta, parvae quoque res 
magnis motibus agebantur. Vibius Crispus, pecunia, po- 



rn A number of impostors, at different times, assumed the name of 
Nero . 

n Galatia and Pamphylia, were countries of Asia Minor. Cyth- 
*ms, one of the islands called the Cyclades in the ^gean sea. Mise- 
num, a promontory of Campania ; now Capo dt Mistno. 

s Syria, a country of Nether Asia, between the Mediterranean and 
the Euphrates, so extensive that Palestine was considered apart of it, 

t The same ferocity appeared in Nero's countenance after he was 
dead. 



58 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 82«, 

tentia, ingenio inter claros magis, quam inter bonoe, Annium 
Faustum, Equestris ordinis, qui temporibus Neronis dela- 
tiones factitaverat, ad cognitionem Senatus vocabat. Nam 
recens, Galbee Principatu, censuerant Patres, ' ut accusa- 
6 torum caussae noscerentur.' Id Senatusconsultum varie 
jactatum et, prout potens vel inops reus inciderat, infirmum 
aut validum retinebatur. Ad hoc terroris et propria vi 
Crispus incubuerat, delatorem fratris sui (u) pervertere : 
traxeratque magnam Senatus partem, ' ut indefensum et 
c inauditum dedi ad exitium' postularent. Contra apud 
alios nihil asque reo proderat, quam nimia potentia adcusa- 
toris : c dari tempus, edi crimina, quamvis invisum ac no- 
1 centem, more tamen audiendum,' censebant. Et valuere 
primo, dilataque in paucos dies cognitio : mox damnatus est 
Faustus, nequaquam eo adsensucivitatis, quern pessimis mo- 
ribus meruerat : quippe ipsum Crispum easdem adcusatio- 
nes cum praemio exercuisse meminerant : nee poena crimi- 
nis, sed ultor displicebat. 

XI. La3ta interim Othoni principia belli, motis ad impe- 
rium ejus e Dalmatia Pannoniaque exercitibus : fuere qua- 
tuor legiones : e quibus bina millia praemissa : ipsse modi- 
cis intervallis sequebantur : septima a Galba conscripta ; 
veteranae undecima ac tertiadecima et prsecipua fama quar- 
tadecumani, rebellione Britannias compressa. Addiderat 
gloriam Nero, eligendo, ut postissimos : unde longa il- 
lis erga Neronem fides, et erecta in Ofhonem studia. 
Sed, quo plus virium ac loboris, e fiducia tarditas inerat 
agmen legionum ala3 cohortesque praeveniebant. Et ex 
ipsa urbe liaud spernenda manus, quinque Praetoriae co- 
hortes, et equitum vexilla cum legione prima : ac deforme 
insuper auxilium, duo millia gladiatorum, sed per civilia ar- 
ma etiam severis Ducibus usurpatum. His copiis rector 
additus Annius Gallus, cum Vestricio Spurinna ad occupan- 
das Padi ripas prasmissus : quoniam prima consiliorum frus- 
tra ceciderant, transgresso jam Alpes Csecina, quern sisti 
intra Gallias posse speraverat. Ipsum Othonem comita- 
bantur speculatorum (v) lecta corpora, cum ceteris PraB- 
toriis cohortibus, veterani e Praetorio, classicorum ingens 
namerus. Nee illi segne aut conruptum luxu iter : sed 

u His brother was Vibius Secundus ; a man eonvicted of extortion. 
H Speculatorum, praetorian guards. 



. g. 69. HISTOR. LIE. SECUNDUS. 69 

lorica ferrea usus est, et ante signa pedester, horridus 5 in- 
comptus, fain ae que dissimilis. 

XII. Blanciiebatur coeptis Fortuna. possessa per mare et 
naves rcnjore Italiae parte, penitus usque ad initium mariti- 
marum Alpiufn : quibus tentandis adgrediendaeque provin- 
ciae Narbonensi, Suedium Clementem, Antonium Novellum, 
iEmilium Pacensem Duces dederat. Sed Pacensis per li- 
centiam militum vinctus : Antonio Novello nulla auctoritas : 
Suedius Clemens ambitioso imperio regebat, ut adversus 
modestiam disciplinae conruptus, (w) ita -prceliorum avidus. 
Non Italia adiri, nee loca sedesque patriae videbantuix 
taaiquam externa litora et urbes hostium urere, vastare, 
rapere : eo atrocius, quod nihil usquam pro visum adver- 
suoi metus. Pleni agri, apertae dornus : occursantes do- 
mini juxta conjuges et liberos securitate pacis et belli malo 
eircumveniebantur. Maritimas turn Alpes tenebat Procu- 
rator Marius Maturus. Is concita gente (nee deest juven- 
tus) arcere provincial finibus Othonianos intendit. Sed 
primo inpetu caesi disjectique montani, ut quibus, temere 
conlectis, non castra, non ducem noscitantibus, neque in 
victoria decus esset, neque in fuga flagitium. 

XIII. Inritatus eo praelio Othonis miles vertit iras in 
municipium Albium Intemelium : (y) quippe in acie nihil 
praedae : inopes agrestes et vilia arma : nee capi poterant, 
pernix genus et gnari locorum : sed calamitatjbus insontium 
expleta avaritia. Auxit invidiam praeclaro exemplo ferrina 
Ligus, quae filio abdito, cum simul pecuniam occultari nsili- 
tes credidissent, eoque per cruciatus interrogarent. ' ubi 

* filium oqculeret ?' uterum ostendens, ' latere' respondit 
Nee ullis deinde terroribus, aut morte, constantiam vocis 
egregiae mutavit. 

XIV. « Inminere provinciae Narbonensi, in verba Vitellii 

* adactae, classem Othonis,' Fabio Valenti trepidi nuntii 
adtulere. Aderant legati coloniarum, auxilium orantes* 
Duas Tungrorum cohortes, quatuor equitum turmas, uni- 
versam Treverorum alam cum Julio Classico, Praefecto, 
misit : e quibus pars in colonia Forojuliensi retenta, ne, 
omnibus copiis in terrestre iter versis, vacuo mari classis 

w Ut adversus modestiam disciplinoe, corruptus. He being too in- 
dulgent to the soldiers, and not enforcing strict discipline. Gronovius 
prefers corruptos and avidos, referring to the soldiers. 

y Albium Intemelium; now Vintimeglia* southwest ef the terff- 
*o?y ©f Genosfe 



m C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. && 

acceleraret. Duodecim equitum turmae, (2) et lecti e co- 
hortibus, aclversus hostem iere : quibus adjuncta Ligurum 
cohors, vetus loci auxilium, et quingenti Alpini, qui non* 
dam sub signis. Nee mora proelio : sed acie ita instructa, 
ut pars classicorum, mixtis paganis, in colles mari propin- 
quos exsurgeret, quantum inter colles ac litus eequi lock 
Prastorianus miles expleret, in ipso mari ut annexa classis 
et pugnae parata, conversa et minaci fronte praetenderetur. 
Vitelliani, quibus minor peditum vis, in equite robur, Al- 
pinos proximis jugis, cohortes densis ordinibus post equi- 
temlocant. Treverorum turmae obtulere se hosti incaute, 
cum exciperet contra veteranus miles, simul a latere saxis 
urgeret apta ad jaciendum etiam paganorum manus : qui 
sparsi inter milites, strenui ignavique, tu victoria idem au- 
debant. Additus perculsis terror, invecta in terga pugnan- 
tium classe. Ita undique clausi i deletaeque omnes copiae 
forent, ni victorem exercitum adtinuisset obscurum noctis^ 
obtentui fugientibus. 

XV. Nee Vitelliani, quamquam victi, quievere : accitis 
auxiliis, securum hostem ac successu rerum socordius agen- 
tern invadunt : caesi vigiles, perrupta castra, trepidatum 
apud naves : donee, eedente paullatim metu, occupato juxta 
colle defensi, mox inrupere : atrox ibi caedes, et Tungra- 
rum cohortmm Prsefecti, sustentata cliu acie, telis obruun- 
tur N Othonianis quidem incruenta victoria fuit, quo- 
rum inprovide secutos conversi equites circumvenerunt. 
Ac velutpactis indaciis, ne hinc classis, inde eques, subitam 
formidinem inferrent, Vitelliani retro Antipolim, ' Narbo- 
nensis Galliae municipium : Othoniani Albingaunum interio- 
ris Liguriae, revertere. 

XVI. Corsicam ac Sardiniam, (a) ceterasque proximi 
maris insulas, ft ma victricis classis in partibus Othonis te- 
nuit. Sed Corsicam prope adflixit D, Pacarii Procurator^ 
temeritas, tanta mole belli, nihil in summam profutura. 
ipsi exitiosa. Namque, Othonis odio, juvare Vitellium 
Corsorum viribus statuit, inani auxilio, etiam si provenisset. 
Vocatis principibus iasulae, consilium aperit : et contra 
dicere ausos, Claudium Phirricum, Trierarchum liburni- 

s There were usually three hundred cavalry joined to each legion, 
who were called ala. They were divided into ten turmce or troops 
and each tut ma into three decurice, or bodies of ten men. 

a Corsica and Sardinia are islands w that part of the Mediterr^ae* 
m called the sea of Li^uriu-* 



*. c. 69. HisT OR. LIB. S2CUNDU9: 6*. 

carum ibi navium, Quinctium Certum, Equitem Romanum, 
interfici j ubet : quorum morte exterriti, qui aderant, simul 
ignara et alieni metus socia imperitorum turba, in verba 
Vitellii juravere. Sed, ubi delectum agere Pacarius, et in- 
conditos homines fatigare militiae muneribus occepit, labo- 
rem insolitum perosi, infirmitatem suam reputabant : * in- 

* sulam esse, quam incolerent, et longe Germaniam vires- 

* que legionum : direptos vastatosque classe, etiam quos 
€ cohortes alaeque protegerent.' Et aversi repente animi : 
nee tamen aperta vi, aptum tempus insidiis legere : di~ 
gressis, qui Pacarium frequentabant, nudus et auxilii inops* 
balineis interficitur, trucidati et comites. Capita, ut hosti- 
um, ipsi interfectores ad Othonem tulere : neque eos (b) 
aut Otho praemio adfecit, aut punivit Vitellius> in multa con- 
luvie rerum majoribus flagitiis permixtos. 

XVII. Aperuerat jam Italiam, bellumque transmiserat, 
ut supra memoravimus, ala Syllana^ nullo apud quamquam 
Othonis favore : nee quia Vitellium mallent ; sed longa 
pax ad omne servitium fregerat, faciles occupantibus (c) et 
melioribus incuriosos. Florentissimum Italia latus, quan- 
tum inter Padum Alpesque camporum et urbium, armis 
Vitellii (namque et praemissae a Caecina cohortes advene- 
rant) tenebatur. Capta Pannoniorum cohors apud Cremo- 
nam. Intercepti centum equites ac mille classici inter Pla- 
centiam Ticinumque : quo successu Vitellianus miles non 
jam flumine aut ripis arcebatur. Inritabat quin etiam 
Batavos Transrhenanosque Padus ipse : qu€m repente, 
contra Placentiam, transgressi, raptis quibusdam explorato- 
fibus, ita ceteros terruere^ ut, fc adesse omnem Caecinae 

* exercitum,' trepidi ac falsi nuntiarent. 

XVIII. Certum erat Spurinnae (is enim Placentiam ob- 
tinebat,) nee dum venisse Caecinam, et, si propinquaret, 
coercere intra munimenta militem, nee tres PraBtorias co* 
hortes et mille vexillarios, cum paucis equitibus, veterano 
exercitui objicere. Sed indomitus miles et belli ignarus, 
conreptis signis vexillisque, ruere, et retinenti Duci tela in- 
tentare, spretis Centuriombus Tribunisque ; quin ' prodi- 

b Neque eos, etc. The idea is that the assassins were not punished 
by either Otho or Vitellius. In the mass of atrocious deeds that dis* 
graced the times, petty villanies were suffered to pass with impunity. 

e Faciles occupantibus, ate. Ready to stretch their necks to the 
^oke, whatever hand imposed it ; in their ehoioe of a master whol$ 
indifferent. 

7 * 



88 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c 822. 

' tionum, et accitum Caecinam,' clamitabant. Fit temeri- 
latis alienae comes Spurinna, primo coactus, mox velle si- 
mulins, quo plus auctoritatis inesset consiliis, si seditio 
mitesceret. 

XIX. Postquam in conspectu Padus et nox adpetebat, 
vailari castra placuit. Is labor, urbano militi insolitus 5 
contudit animos. Turn vetustissimus quisque castigare 

* credulitatem suam, metum ac dise^imen , ostendere, ' si 

* cum exercitu Caecina, patentibus campis, tarn paucas co- 
i hortes circumfudisset.' Jamque totis castris modesti 
sermones, et,, inserentibus se Centurionibus Tribunisque, 
laudari ' providentia Ducis, quod coloniam, viriuin et 
1 opum validam, robur ac sedem bello legisset.' Ipse pos- 
tremo Spurinna, non tarn culpam exprobrans, quam ra- 
tione ostendens, relictis explorantibus, ceteros Placentiam 
reduxit, minus turbidos et imperia accipientes. Solidati 
muri, propugnaeula addita, auctae turres, provisa parataque 
non arma modo, sed obsequium et parendi amor ; quod 
solum illis partibus defuit, cum virtutis haud poenlteret. 

XX. At Caecina, velut relicta post Alpes saevitia ac li- 
eentia, modesto agmine per Italiam incessit. Ornatum 
ipsius municipia et coloniae in superbiam trahebant : quod 
versicolore sagulo, braccas, (d) tegmen barbarum, indutua, 
togatos adloqueretur. Uxorem quoque ejus, Saloninam, 
quamquam in nullius injuriam insigni equo ostroque ve- 
heretur, tamquam laesi gravabantur : insita mortalibus 
natura, recentem aliorum felicitatem aegris oculis intros- 
picere, modumque fortunae a nullis magis exigere, quam 
quos in aequo videre. Caecina, Padum transgressus, ten- 
tata Othonianorum fide per conloquium et promissa, iisdem 
petitus, posfquam pax et concordia speciosis et inritis no- 
minibus j aetata sunt, consilia curasque in oppugnationem 
Placentiae magno terrore vertit : gnarus, ut initia belli 
provenissent, famam in cetera fore. 

XXI. Sed primus dies inpetu magis, quam veterani ex- 
ercitus artibus, transactus : aperti incautique muros so- 
biere, cibo vinoque praegraves. In eo certamine, pul- 
cherrimum amphitheatri opus, situm extra muros, confla- 
gravit : sive ab oppugnatoribus incensum, dum faces et 
glandes ac missilem ignem in obsessos jaculantur : sive ab 

d Caecina wore the sagulum or sagum, which was the German 
stress, and the braccce, or breeches which distinguished the Gaul?* 



j. c. t>9. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 63 

obsessis, dum retorta ingerunt. Municipale vulgus, pro* 
num ad suspiciones, fraude inlata ignis alimenta credidit a 
quibusdam e vicinis coloniis, invidia et aenmlatione, quod 
nulla in Italia moles tarn capax foret : quocunque casu ao 
cidit, dum atrociora metuebantur, inlevi habitum : reddita 
securitate, tamquam nihil gravius patipotuissent, moerebant. 
Ceterum multo suorum cruore pulsus Caecina : et nox 
parandis operibus adsumpta. Vitelliani pluteos cratesque 
et vineas suffodiendis muris, protegendisque oppugnatori- 
bus ; Othoniani sudes et inmensas lapidum ac plumbi aeris- 
que moles, perfringendis obrueridisque hostibus, expe- 
diunt. Utrimque pudor, utrimque gloria, et diversae ex- 
hortationes hinc ' legionum et Germanici exercitus robur/ 
inde 4 urbanae militiae et Praetoriarum cohortium decus' 
adtollentium : illi l ut segnem ac desidem et circo ac thea- 
* tris conruptum militem ;' hi ' peregrinum et externum' 
increpabant : simul Othonem et Vitellium, celebrantes 
culpantesve, uberioribus inter se probris quam laudibus- 
stimulabantur. 

XXII. Vixdum orto die, plena propugnatoribus moenia : 
fulgentes armis virisque campi, densum legionum agmen r 
sparsa auxiliorum manus, altiora murorum sagittis aut saxis 
incessere : neglecta, aut aevo fluxa cominus adgredi : in- 
gerunt desuper Othoniani pila, librato magis et certo ictu, 
adversus temere subeuntes cohortes Germanorum, cantu 
truci, et more patrio nudis corporibus, super humeros scuta 
quatientium. Legionarius, pluteis et cratibus tectus, su- 
bruit muros, instruit aggerem, molitur portas. Contra 
Praetoriani dispositos ad id ipsum molares ingenti pondere 
ac fragore provolvunt : pars subeuntium obruti ; pars 
confixi et exsangues, aut laceri, cum augeret stragem tre- 
pidatio, eoque acrius e moenibus vulnerarentur, rediere, 
infracta partium fama. Et Caecina, pudore coeptae temere 
oppugnationis, ne inrisus ac vanus iisdem castris adsideret, 
trajecto rursus Pado, Cremonam petere intendit. Tra- 
didere sese abeunti Turulius Cerialis cum compluribus 
classicis ; et Julius Briganticus cum paucis equitum : hie 
Praefectus alae, in Batavis genitus ; ille Primipilaris et 
Caecinae haud alienus, quod ordines in Germania duxerat. 

XXIII. Spurinna, comperto itinere hostium, defensam 
Placentiam, qnaeque acta, et quid Caecina pararet, Annium 
Galium per litteras docet. Gallus legionem primam in 
auxilium Placentiae ducebat, diffisus paucitate cohortium, ne 



$4 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 822. 

longius obsidium et vim Germanici exercitus parum tole- 
rarent : ubi pulsum Caecinam pergere Cremonam accepit, 
segre coercitam legionem, et pugnandi ardore usque ad se- 
ditionem progressam, Bedriaci (e) sisdt. Inter Veronara 
Cremonamque situs est vicus, duabus jam Romanis cladibus 
notus infaustusque. Iisdem diebus a Martio Macro haud 
procul Cremona prospere pugnatum : namque promptus 
animi Martius trans vectos navibus gladiatores in adversam 
Padi ripam repente effudit. Turbata ibi Vitellianorum 
auxilia, et, ceteris Cremonam fugientibus, caesi, qui resti- 
terant : sed repressus vincentium impetus, ne, novis sub- 
sides firmati, hostes fortunam proelii mutarent. Suspectum 
id Othonianis fuit, omnia Ducum facta prave aestimantibus. 
Certatim, ut quisque animo ignavus, procax ore, Annium 
Galium et Suetonium Paullinum et Marium Celsum (nam 
eos Otho quoque praefecerat) variis criminibus incessebant. 
Acerrima seditionum ac discordiae incitamenta, interfec- 
tore Galbae : scelere et metu vecordes, miscere cuncta, 
modo palam turbidis vocibus, modo occultis ad Othon^m 
litteris : qui humillimo cuique credulus, bonos metuens, 
trepidabat ; rebus prosperis incertus, et inter adversa me* 
lior. Igitur Titianum, fratrem, accitum bello praeposuit* 
Interea Paullini et Celsi ductu res egregiae gestae. 

XXIV. Angebat Caecinam nequidquam omnia ccepta, et 
senescens exercitus sui fama : pulsus Placentia, caesis nuper 
auxiliis, etiam per concursum exploratorum* crebra magis 
quam digna memoratu prcelia, . inferior ; propinquante 
Fabio Valente, ne omne belli decus illuc concederet, re- 
ciperare gloriam, avidius quam consultius, properabaL 
Ad duodecimum a Cremona, locus Castrorum vocatur, (g) 
ferocissimos auxiliarium, inminentibus viae lucis occultos, 
eomponit: equites * procedere longius' jussi, i et, inritato 
'prcelio sponte refugi, festinationem sequentium elicere^ 
i donee insidiae coorirentur.' Proditum id Othonianis Du- 
cibus : et curam peditum Paullinus, equitum Celsus, sump- 
sere. Tertiaedecimae legionisvexillum, quatuor auxiliorum 

e Bedriacum. This village, which, according to Cluverius, stood 
at the distance of twenty miles from Cremona, and is now called Ca- 
neto, has been rendered famous by the defeat of Otho, and afterwards 
as will be seen in the third book of this History, by that of Vitellius. 

g The place called here Casl 'o rum , was a spot where the temple of 
Castor was built. See Suetonius in Otho, s. 9. It was about twelve 
miles from Cremona, between the Po and the Addua now Adcte? 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUDNUS. 65 

cohortes et quingenti equites in sinistro locantur ; aggerem 
vice tres Praetoriae cohortes altis ordinibus obtinuere : dex- 
tra fronte prima legio incessit, cum duabus auxiliaribns co- 
hortibus et quingentis equitibus. Super hos e Praetorio 
auxiliisque mille equites, cumulus prosperis, aut subsrdium 
laborantibus, ducebantur. 

XXV. Antequam miscerentur acies, terga vertentibus 
Vitellianis, Olsus, doli prudens, repressit suos. Vitellia- 
ni temere exsurgentes, cedente sensim Celso, longius se- 
cuti, ultro in insidias praecipitantur : nam a lateribus co- 
hortes, legionum adversa fronte, et subito discursa terga 
cinxerant equites. Signum pugnae non statim a Suetonio 
Paullino pediti datum : cunctator natura, et cui cauta potius 
consilia cum ratione, quam prospera ex casu, placerent, 

* compleri fossas, aperiricampum, pandi aciem' jubebat ; (h) 
f satis cito incipi victoriam, ubi provisum foret, ne vince- 
4 rentur.' Ea cunctatione spatium Vitellianis datum, in 
vineas, nexu traducum (i) inpeditas, refugiendi : et modica 
silva adhaerebat : unde rursus ausi promptissimos Praeto- 
rianorum equitum interfecere : vulneratur Rex Epipha- 
nes, (J) inpigre pro Othone pugnam ciens. 

XXVI. Turn Othonianus pedes erupit ; protrita hos- 
tium acie, versi in fugam, etiam qui subveniebant : nam Cae- 
cina non simul cohortes, sed singulas acciverat : quae res 
in prcelio trepidationem auxit, cum dispersos, nee usquam 
validos, pavor fugientium abriperet.* Orta et in castris se- 
ditio, quod non universi ducerentur : vinctus Praefectus, 
castrorum, Julius Gratus, ' tamquam fratri, apud Othonem 
; militanti, proditionem ageret :' cum fratrem ejus, Julium 
Frontonem, Tribunum, Othoniani sub eodem crimine 
vinxissent. Ceterum ea ubique formido fuit apud tugien- 
tes, occursantes, in acie, pro vallo, ut ( deleri cum uni~ 
; verso exercitu Caecinam potuisse, ni Suetonius Paul- 

* linus receptui cecinisset,' utrisque in partibus percrebue- 
rit. 4 Timuisse se,' Paullinus ferebat, ' tantum insuper 
4 laboris ac itin^ris, ne Vitellianus miles, recens e castris, 

* fessos adgrederetur, et perculsis nullum retro subsidium 

h Compleri fossas, etc. He orders the hollows to be filled up, the 
ground to be cleared, and his line to be extended. 

i When the branches of vines extended from one tree to another > 
they were called traduces. 

j Epiphanes was the son of Antiochus IV. King of Cemmagene, -a 
district of Syria-. 



m C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

* foret ;* apud paucos ea Ducis ratio probata, in vulgus 
adverso rumore fuit. 

XXVII. Haud perinde id damnum Vitellianos in metum 
compulit, quarn ad modestiam composuit : nee solum apud 
Caecinam, qui culpam * in militem,' conferebat, ' seditioni 

* magis quam proelio paratum ;' Fabii quoque Valentis 
eopias (jam enim Ticinum (k) venerat) posito hostium 
contemptu, et recuperandi decoris cupidine, reverentius 
et aequalius Duci parebant. Gravis alioquin seditio exar- 
serat, quam altiore initio (neque enim rerum a Caecina 
gestarum ordinem interrumpi oportuerat) repetam. Co- 
hortes Batavorum, quas bello Neronis a quartadecima le- 
gione digressas, cum Britanniam peterent, audito Vitellii 
motu, in civitate Lingonum Fabio Valenti adjunctas retu- 
limus, superbe agebant ; ut cujusque legionis tentoria ac- 
cessissent, ' coercitos a se quartadecimanos, ablatam Ne- 

* roni Italiam, atqtie omnem belli fortunam in ipsorum 
4 manu sitara,' jactantes. Contumeliosum id- militibus, 
acerbum Duci: conrupta jurgiis aut rixis disciplina : ad 
postremum Valens e petulantia etiam perfidiam suspectabat. 

XXVIII. Igitur nuntio adlato, * pulsam Treverorum 

* alam Tungrosque a classe Othonis et Narbonensem Gal- 
' liam circumiri f simul cura socios tuendi et militari astu 
cohortes turbidas, ac, si una forent, praevalidas, disper- 
gendi, partem Batavorum c ire in subsidium' jubet : quod 
ubi auditum vulgatumque, mcerere socii, fremere legiones : 

* orbari se fortissimorum virorum auxilio : veteres illos et 

* tot bellorum victores, postquam in conspectu sit hostis, 

* velut ex acie abduci : si provincia urbe et salute Imperii 
; potior sit, omnes illuc sequerentur : sin victoriae sanitas, 

* sustentaculum, columen in Italia verteretur, non abrun> 

* pendos, ut corpori, validissimos artus. 5 

XXIX. Haec ferociter jactando, postquam, inmissis lie- 
toribus, Valens coercere seditionem coeptabat, ipsum inva- 
dunt, saxa jaciunt, fugientem .sequuntur, \ spolia Galliarum 

* et Viennensium aurum (I) et pretia laboruai suorum occul- 
4 tare.' clamitantes, direptis sarcinis, tabernacula Ducis, ip^ 
samque humum pilis et lanceis rimabantur : nam Valen> 

k Ticinum, a city built by tlie Transalpine Gauls, on the river Tk 
oinus. 

/ The people of Vienne were obliged to purchase the protection $f 
Valens. Hist. i. Se 66. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 67 

servili veste apud Decurionem equitum tegebatur. Turn 
Alphenus Varus, Praefectus castrorum, deflagrante paul- 
latim seditione, addit consilium, vetiti obire vigilias Cen- 
turionibus, omisso tuba; sono, («i) quo miles ad belli munia 
cietur. Igitur torpere cuueti, cireumspectare inter se ad- 
toniti : et ipsum^ quod nemo regeret, paventes : silentio, 
patientia, postremo precibus ac lacrymis veniam quaere- 
bant. Ut vero deformis et flens etpraeter spem incolumis 
Valens processit, gaudium, miseratio, favor : versi in lae- 
titiam, (ut est vulgus utroque iumodicum) laudantes gratan- 
tesque : circumdatum aquilis signisque in tribunal ferunt. 
Ille utili moderatione non supplicium cujusquam poposcit : 
ac ne dissimulans suspectior foret, paucos incusavit : gna- 
rus civilibus bellis plus militibus, quam ducibus, licere. (n) 
XXX. Munientrbus castra apud Ticinum, de adversa 
Caecinae pugna adlatum, et prope renovata seditio, * tam- 
c quam fraude et cunctationibus Valentis proelio defuissent/ 
Nolle requiem, non exspectare ducem, anteire signa, ur- 
gere signiferos : rapido agmine Caecinae junguntur. |n- 
prospera Valentis fama apud exercitum Caecinae erat : ' ex- 
1 positos se tanto pauciores integris viribus,' querebantur, 
simul in suam excusationem, et adventantium robur per 
adulationem adtpllentes, ne ut victi et ignavi despectaren- 
tur. Et quamquam plus virium, prope duplicatus legio- 
num auxiliorumque numerus erat Valenti, studia tamen 
militum in Caacinam inclinabant; super benignitatem animi, 
qua promptior habebatur, etiam vigore aetatis, proceritate 
corporis et quodam inani favore. (o) Hinc aemulatio Du- 
cibus. Caecina ' utfcedum et maculosum,' ille ' ut vanum 
' ac tumidum, 5 inridebant. Sed condito odio, eandem uti- 
litatem tbvere, crebris epistolis, sine respectu veniae, pro- 
bra Othoni objectantes : cum duces partium Othonis., 
quamvis uberrima conviciorum in Vitellium materia, ab- 
stinerent. 

m The signals were given to the night watch by the sound of a 
trumpet. 

n In an army, where all, from the highest to the lowest, committed 
the most violent outrages, the soldiers knew no subordination. Guilt, 
when widely spread, levels all distinctions. 

o Caecina was admired by his soldiers, for those agreeable seconda- 
ry qualities, which often captivate the multitude. Corbulo, the 
great commander, so much extolled by Tacitus, united to his superior 
talents, the specious trifles that conciliate favour. Super experuntiara 
sapientiamque, etiam specie inamum validus. Annals, xiii. s. 8. 



68 ft. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

XXXT. Sane ante utriusque exitum, quo egregiam Otho 
famam, Vitellius flagitiosissimam, meruere, minus Vitellii 
ignavae voluptates, quam Othonis flagrantissimae libidines 
timebantur. Addiderat huic terrorem atque odium caedes 
Galbae ; contra illi initium belli nemo inputabat. (p) Vitel- 
lius ventre et gula sibi ipse hostis ; Otho luxu, saevitia," 
audacia, Reipublicae exitiosior ducebatur. Conjunctis 
Caecinae ac Valentis copiis, nulla ultra penes Vitellianos 
mora, quin totis viribus certarent. Otho consultavit, trahi 
bellum, an fortunam experiri placeret. Turn Suetonius 
Pauilinus, dignum fama sua ratus, qua nemo ilia tempestate 
militaris rei callidior habebatur, de toto genere belli cen- 
sere, 4 festinationem hostibus, moram ipsis utilem' dis- 
seruit. , 

XXXII. 4 Exercitum Vitellii universum advenisse : nee 
4 multum virium a tergo, quoniam Galliae tumeant, (9) et 
r deserere Rheni ripam, inrupturis tarn infestis nationibus, 
4 non conducat : Britannicum militem hoste et mari distine- 
4 ri : Hispanias armis non ita redundare : provinciam Nar- 
4 bonensem incursu classis et adverso prcelio contremuisse : 
c clausam Alpibus, et nullo maris subsidio, Transpadanam 
4 ltnliam atque ipso transitu exercitus vastam : non fruroen- 
4 turn usquam exercitui nee exercitum sine copiis retineri 
4 posse. Jam Germanos, quod genus militum apud hostes 
4 atrocissimura sit, tracto in aestatem bello, fluxis corporibus, 
4 mutationem soli caelique haud toleraturos. Multa bella, 
' inpetu valida, per taedia et moras evanuisse. Contra ipsis 
4 omnia opulenta et fida : Pannoniam, Moesiam, Dalma- 
4 tiam, (r) Orientem, cum integris exercitibus ; Italiam et 
c caput rerum urbem : Senatumque et Populum nunquam 
4 obscura nomina. etsi aliquando obumbrentur ; publicas 
4 privatasque opes et inmensam pecuniam, inter civiles dis- 
4 cordias ferro validiorem ; corpora militum aut ltaliae 
4 sueta, aut aestibus : objacere flumen Padum, tutas viris 
4 murisque urbes ; e quibus nullam hosti cessuram, Pla- 
4 centiae defensione exploratum. Proinde duceret bellum : 
4 paucis diebus quartamdecimam legionem, magna ipsam 

p Vitellius was of so sluggish a disposition, that he seemed to act 
under the direction of others, not from the impulse of his own mind, 

q Tumeant. Are ready to commence hostilities. 

r Pannonia, an extensive country of Europe bounded by Mossia on 
the east, by Noricum on the west, Dalmatia, on the south, and by the 
Danube to the north, containing part of Austria and Hungary. 



j. c, 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 69 

* fama, cum Moesiacis copiis adfore : turn rursus delibera- 
' turum, et, si proelium placuisset, auctis viribus certaturos. 5 

XXXIII. Accedebat sententiee Paullini Marius Celsus : 
; idem placere Annio Gallo,' paucos ante dies lapsu equi 
adflicto, missi, qui consilium ejus sciscitarentur, retulerant. 
Otho pronus ad decertandum : frater ejus Titianus, et 
Praefectus Praetorii Proculus, inperitia properantes, ' For- 
1 tunam et Deos et Numen Othonis adesse consiliis, adfore 
4 conatibus,' testabantur : neu quis obviam ire sententiae 
auderet, in adulationem concesserant. Postquam pugnari 
placitum. * interesse pugnae Imperatorem, an seponi me- 
1 lius foret,' dubitavere. Paullino et Celsojam nonadver- 
santibus, ne Principem objectare periculis viderentur, 
iidem illi deterioris consilii auctores perpulere, ut Brixel- 
' lum (s) concederet, ac, dubiis proeliorum exemptus, 
- summae rerum et Imperii se ipsum reservaret.' Is pri- 
mus dies Othonianas partes adflixit : namque et cum ipso 
Praetoriarum cobortium et speculatorum equitumque valida 
manus discessit, et remanentium fractus animus : quando 
suspecti duces, et ut Othoni uni apud militem fides, dum et 
ipse non nisi militibus credit, imperia ducum in incerto re- 
liquerat. {t) 

XXXIV. Nihil eorum Vitellianos fallebat, crebris, ut in 
civili bello, transfugiis : et exploratores, cura diversa scis- 
citandi, sua non accultabant. Quieti intentique Caecina ac 
Valens, quando hostis inprudentia rueret, quod loco sapien- 
tiae est, alienam stultitiam opperiebantur, inchoato ponte 
transitum Padi simulantes, adversus oppositam gladiato- 
rum (w) manum, ac ne ipsorum miles segne otium tereret. 
Naves, pari inter se spatio, validis utrimque trabibus con- 
nexae, adversum in tlumen dirigebantur, jactis super anco- 
ris, quae hrmitatem pontis continerent. Sed ancorarum 
tunes non extenti fluitabant, ut, augcscente flumine, inof- 
fensus ordo navium adtolleretur. Claudebat pontem in- 



s Brixcllum, the town where Otho killed himself after the defeat 
at Bedriacvm ; now called Bresello, in the territory of Reggio. 

t The soldiers were faithfully attached to Otho, but suspicious of 
their other generals, so much so that after Otho left the army, no of- 
ficer remained who could preserve strict subordination. 

u It has been already mentioned that Otho had in his army two 
thousand gladiators ; a disgraceful expedient, says Tacitus, but in civil 
wars adopted by the ablest generals. See this book, s. xi. 

8 



70 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

posita turris et in extremam navem educta : unde tormen- 
tis ac machinis hostes propulsarentur. 

XXXV. Othoniani in ripa turrim struxerant, saxaque 
et faces jaculabantur. Et erat insula amne medio, in quam 
gladiatores navibus molientes, Germani nando praelabeban- 
tur. Ac forte plures transgressos, completis Liburnicis, 
per promptissimos gladiatorum Macer adgreditur. Sed 
neque ea constantia gladiatoribus ad proelia, quae militibus ; 
nee perinde nutantes e navibus, quam stabili gradu e i ipa, 
vulnera dirigebant. Et, cum variis trepidantium incfina- 
tionibus, mixti remiges propugnatoresque turbarentur, 
desilire in vada ultro Germani, retentare puppes, scandere 
foros, aut cominus mergere : quae cuncta, in oculis utrius- 
que exercitus, quanto laetiora Vitellianis, tanto acrius Otho- 
niani caussam auctoremque cladis detestabantur. 

XXXVI. Et proelium quidem, abruptis quae supererant 
navibus, fuga diremptum : (tp) Macer ad exitium posceba- 
tur. Jamque vulneratum eminus lancea strictis gladiis in- 
vaserant, cum intercursu Tribunorum Centurionumque 
protegitur. Nee multo post Vestricius Spurinna, jussu 
Othonis, relicto Placentiae modico praesidio, cum cohorti- 
bus subvenk. Dein Flavium Sabinum, Consulem designa- 
tum, Otho rectorem copiis misit, quibus Macer proefuerat ; 
laeto milite ad mutationem ducum, et ducibus ob crebras 
seditiones tarn infestam militiam adspernantibus. 

XXXVII. Invenio apud quosdam auctores, ' pavore 
' belli, seu fastidio utriusque Principis, quorum flagitia ac 
1 dedecus apertiore in dies fama noscebaniur, dubitasse 

* exercitus, num, posito certamine, vel ipsi in medium 
' consultarent, vel Senatui permitterent legere Imperato- 
' rem. Atque eo duces Othonianos spatium ac moras sua- 

* sisse, praecipua spe Paullini* quod vetustissimus Con- 
' sularium, et militia ^clarus, gloriam nomenque Britannicis 
c expeditionibus meruisset. 1 Ego, ut concesserim, apud 
paucos tacito voto quietem pro discordia, bonum et in- 
noeentem Principem pro pessimis ac flagitiosisimis expe- 
ditum : ita neque Paullinum, qua prudentia fuit, sperasse, 
corruptissimo saeculo tantam vulgi moderationem, reor, ut, 
qui pacem belli amore turbaverant, bellum pacis caritate 
deponerent : neque aut exercitus Unguis moribusque disso- 
nos in hunc consensum potuisse coalescere, aut Legatos ac 

v Flying in the vessels which had not been sunk or taken. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 71 

duces, magna ex parte luxus, egestatis, scelerum sibi con* 
scios, nisi pollutum obsti ictumque meritis suis (sv) Princi- 
pern passuros. 

XXXVIII. Vetus ac jam pridem insita mortalibus po- 
tential cupido cum Imperii magnitudine adolevit erupitque. 
Nam rebus modicis, asqualitas facile habebatur: sed tibi, 
subacto orbe et semulis urbibus Regibusque excisis, securas 
opes concupiscere vacuum fuit, prima inter Patres plebem- 
que certamina exarsere : modo turbulenti Tribuni, modo 
Consules praevalidi, et in urbe ac foro tentamenta civilian! 
bellorum. Mox e plebe infima C. Marius, et nobilium 
saevissimus L. Sulla, victam armis libertatem in dominatio- 
nem verterunt. Post quos Cn. Pompeius occultior, non 
melior. Et numquam postea, nisi de Principatu quaesitum. 
Non discessere ab armis in Pharsalia ac Phillippis (\r) civi- 
umlegiones: nedum Otbonis ac Vitellii exercitus sponte 
posituri bellum fuerint : eadem illos deum ira, eadem ho- 
minum rabies, eaedem scelerum caussse in discordiam ege- 
re. Quod singulis velut ictibus transacta sunt bella, igna- 
via Principum factum est. Sed me veterum novorumque 
morum reputatio longius tulit : nunc ad rerum ordinem 
venio. 

XXXIX. Profecto Brixellum Othone, honor Imperii 
penes Titianum fratrem, vis ac potestas penes Proculum 
Praefectum. Celsus et Paullinus, cum prudentia eorum 
nemo uteretur, inani nomine Ducum, alienae culpae praeten- 
debantur. Tribuni Centurionesque ambigui, quod, spretis 
melioribus, deterrimi valebant : miles alacer ; qui tamen 
jussa ducum interpretari, quam exsequi, mallet. Promo- 
veri ad quartum a Bedriaco castra placuit ; adeo inperite, 
ut quamquam v r erno tempore anni, et tot circum amnibus 
penuria aquas fatigarentur. Ibi de prcelio dubitatum : 
Othone per litteras flagitante, ut maturarent ; militibus, ut 
Imperator pugnas adesset, poscentibus : plerique copias 
trans Padum agentes acciri postulabant. Nee perinde 
dijudicari potest, quid optimum factu fuerit, quam pessimum 
fuisse, quod factum est. 

w Obstrictam meritis suis, obligated by their exertions on his ac- 
count to patronize them, however vicious. 

x Pharsalia, a town in Thessaly rendered famous by the last battle 
between Caesar and Pompey. Phillippi, a city of Macedonia on the 
confines of Thrace, and famous for the battle fought there between 
Augustus and the Republican party. 



72 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. g. 822* 

XL. Non ut ad pugnam, sed ad bellandum* profecti, (y) 
confluentes Padi et Adduae fluminum, sedecim inde millium 
spatia distantes, petebant. Celso et Paullino abnuentibus, 
6 militem itinere fessum, sarcinis gravem, objicere hosti, 
c non admissuro, quo minus expeditus, et vix quatuor mil- 
1 lia passuum progressus, aut incompositos in agmine, aut 

* dispersos et vallum molientes adgrederetur.' (z) Titia- 
nus et Proculus, ubi consiliis vincerentur, ad jus Imperii 
transibant. Aderat sane citus equo Numida cum atrocibus 
rnandatis, quibus Otho, increpita l ducum segnitia, rem in 

* discrimen mitti' jubebat ; aeger mora et spei inpatiens. 

XLI. Eadem die, ad Cascinam, operi pontis intentum, 
duo Prsetoriarum cohortium Tribuni, conloquium ejus 
postulantes, venerunt. Audire conditiones ac reddere 
parabat, cum praecipites exploratores, adesse hostem, nun- 
tiavere. Interruptus Tribunorum sermo : eoque incer- 
tum fuit, insidias an proditionem, vel aliquod honestum 
consilium coeptaverint. Caecina, dimissis Tribunis, revec- 
tus in castra, datum jussu Fabii Valentis pugnas signum et 
militem in armis invenit. Dum legiones de ordine agminis 
sortiunter, equites prorupere : et, mirum dictu, a pauciori- 
bus Othonianis quo minus in vallum inpingerentur, Italicse 
legionis virtute deterriti sunt : ea strictis mucronibus, redire 
pulsos et pugnam resumere coegit. Disposita Vitelliano- 
rum legionum acies sine trepidatione : etenim, quamquam 
vicino hoste, adspectus armorum densis arbustis prohibe- 
batur : apud Othonianos, pavidi duces, miles ducibus in- 
fensus, mixta vebicula et lixae, et, praeruptis utrimque fossis, 
via quieto quoque agmini angusta. Circumsistere alii sig- 
na sua, quaerere alii : incertus undique clamor adcurren- 
tium, vocitantium : et, ut cuique audacia vel formido, in 
primam postremamve aciem prorumpebant, vel revehe- 
bantur. 

XLII. Adtonitas subito terrore mentes falsum gaudium 
in languorem vertit, repertis, qui ! descivisse a Vitellio ex- 



y Ad pugnam) to fight, ad bellandum, to carry on warlike opera- 
tions generally. Murphy thinks this the idea of the author. Barbou 
differs from him. He supposes the sentence means ; They went not as 
if to a doubtful conflict, but believing they were about to end the war 
by a single victory. 

* Expeditus and progressus agree with exercitus, understood, i. e. 
of Vitellius ; incompositos dispersos and molientes have reference to 
*&eir own soldier?. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 73 

1 ercitum' ementirentur. Is rumor, ab exploratoribus Vi- 
tellii dispersus, an in ipsa Othonis parte, seu dolo, seu forte 
surrexerit, (a) parum compertum. Omisso pugnae ardore, 
Othoniani ultro salutavere : et hostili murmure excepti, 
plerisque suorum ignaris, quae caussa salutandi, metum pro- 
ditionis fecere, cum incubuit hostium acies, integris ordini- 
bus, robore et numero praestantior : Othoniani, quamquam 
dispersi, pauciores, fessi, proelium tamen acriter sumpsere : 
et per locos, arboribus ac vineis impeditos, non una pugnae 
facies : cominus eminusque catervis et cuneis concurre- 
bant : in aggere viae conlato gradu, corporibus et umboni- 
bus niti, omisso pilorum jactu, gladiis et securibus galeas 
loricasque perrumpere : noscentes inter se, ceteris con- 
spicui, in eventum totius belli certabant. 

XLIII. Forte inter Padum viamque, patenti campo, 
duae legiones congressa? sunt : pro Vitellio unaetvicesima, 
cui cognomen ' Rapaci, 5 vetere gloria insignis : e parte 
Othonis, prima Adjutrix, non ante in aciem deducta, sedfe- 
rox et novi decoris avida. Primani, stratis unaetvicesima- 
norum principiis, (b) aquilam abstulere : quo dolore accen- 
sa legio, et inpulit rursus (c) primanos, interfecto Orphidio 
Benigno Legato, et plurima signa vexillaque ex hostibus 
rapuit. A parte alia, propulsa quintanorum inpetu tertia- 
decima legio : circumventi plurium adcursu quartadecimani. 
Et, Ducibus Othonis jam pridem profugis, Caecina ac Va- 
lens subsidiis suos firmabant. Accessit recens auxilium, 
Varus Alphenus cum Batavis, fusa gladiatorum manu,quam, 
navibus transvectam, oppositae cohortes in ipso rlumine 
trucidaverant : ita victores latus hostium invecti. 

XLIV. Et, media acie perrupta, fugere passim Othonia- 
ni, Bedriacum petentes. Inmensum id spatium : obstruc- 
ts strage corporura viae : quo plus caedis fuit : neque 
enim, civilibus bellis, capti in praedam vertuntur. (rf) Sue- 

a Suetonius expressly says, that Otho, in the last engagement at 
Bedriacum, was defeated by a stratagem. His soldiers were called 
out to be present at a general pacification, and, in the very act of 
saluting the Vitellian army, were suddenly attacked. Sueton. Life of 
Otho, s. 9. 

b Principiis. Those who occupied the front rank. See Ann. 4. 2\ 

c Rursus, in turn, in like manner. 

d In the civil wars no prisoners were made, to be afterwards sold 
into slavery ; and consequently, no quarter was given. Plutarch, in 
his account of this battle, describes a most dreadful carnage. See the 
Life of Otho; 

8* 



4 C. CORN. TAC1TL a. u. c. 822. 

tonius Paullinus et Licinius Proculus diversis itineribus, 
castra vitavere. Vedium Aquilam, tertiaedecimee legionis 
Legatum, irae militum inconsultus pavor obtulit : multo 
adhuc die vallum ingressus, clainore seditiosorum et fuga- 
cium circumstrepitur : non probris, non manibus abstinent : 

* desertorem proditoreraque' increpant : nullo proprio cri- 
mine ejus 5 sed more vulgi, suum quisque flagitium aliis ob- 
jectantes. Titianurn et Celsum nox juvit, dispositis jam 
excubiis, compressisque militibus, quos Annius Gallus pre- 
oibus, consilio, auctoritate flexerat, ' ne super cladem ad° 

* versa? pugnae suismet ipsi caedibus saevirent : sive finis 
' bello venisset, seu resumere arma inalient, unicum victis 
1 in consensu levamenturo.' Ceteris fractus animus. Prae- 
torianus miles, ' non virtute se, sed proditione victum,' 
fremebat. ' Ne Vitellianis quidem incruentam fuisse vic- 
1 toriam, pulso equite, rapta legionis aquila : superesse 

* cum ipso Othone militum quod trans Padum fuerit : ve- 
4 aire Moesicas legiones : magnam exercitus partem Bedria- 
' ci remansisse : hos certe nondum victos : et, si ita ferret, 
Q honestius in acie perituros.' His cogitationibus truces 
aut pavidi, extrema desperatione ad iram saepius, quam in 
formidinem v stimulabantur. 

XLV. At Vitellianus exercitus, ad quintum a Bedriaco 
iapidem consedit, non ausis Ducibus eadem die oppugnatio* 
nem castrorum : simul voluntaria deditio sperabatur. Sed 
expeditis, et tantum ad prcelium egressis, munimentum 
fuere arma et victoria. Postera die, haud ambigua Otho- 
niani exercitus voluntate, et, qui ferociores fuerant, ad poe- 
nitentiam inclinantibus, missalegatio : nee apud Duces Vi- 
tellianos dubitatum^ quo minus pacem concederent. Legati 
pau.llisper retenti : ea res haesitationem adtulit, ignaris ad- 
huc, an inpetrassent. Mox remissa legatione, patuit val- 
lum. Turn victi victoresque in lacrimas effusi, sortem ci- 
vilium armorum misera laetitia detestantes. Iisdem tento- 
riis alii fratrum, alii propinquorum, vulnera fovebant. 
Spes et praemia in ambiguo : certa, funera et lucjus : nee 
quisquam adeo mali expers, ut non aliquam mortem maere- 
ret. Requisitum Orphidii Legati corpus, honore solito 
crematur : paucos necessarii ipsorum sepelivere : ceterum 
vulgus super humum relictum. 

XLVL Opperiebatur Otho nuntium pugnae, nequaquam 
trepidus, et consilii certus : maesta primum fama, dein pro- 
fttgi e prcelio perditas res patefaciunt. Non exspectavit 



i. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 75 

militum ardor vocem Imperatoris : c bonum habere ani- 
' mum' jubebant : ' superesse adhuc novas vires, et ipsos 

* extrema passuros ausurosque :' neque erat adulatio. Ire 
in aciem : excitare partium fortunam, furore quodam et in- 
stinctu (e) flagrabant : qui procul adstiterant, tendere ma- 
nus, et proximi prensare genua ; promptissimo Plotio 
Firmo. Is Praetorii Prasfectus identidem orabat, ' ne fidis- 
' simum exercitum, ne optime meritos milites desereret : 
1 majore animo tolerari adversa, quam relinqui : fortes et 
■ strenuos etiam contra fortunam insistere spei ; timidos et 

* ignavos ad desperationem formidine properare. Quas 
inter voces, ut flexerat vultum, aut induraverat Otho, cla- 
mor et gemitus. Nee Praetoriani tantum, proprius Othonis 
miles, sed praemissi e Moesia, ; eandem obstinationem ad- 
ventantis 6 exercitus, legiones Aquileiam ingressas,' nun- 
tiabant : ut nemo dubitet, potuisse renovari bellum atrox^ 
lugubre, incertum victis et victoribus. 

XLVII. Ipse aversus a consiliis belli, (/) l hunc,' in- 
quit, ' animum,hanc virtutem vestram ultra periculis obji- 

* cere,nimis grandevitae meae pretium puto. Quanto plus 
\ spei ostenditis, si vivere placeret, tanto pulchrior mors 

* erit. Experti invicem sumus, ego ac Fortuna : nee tem- 
k pus computaveritis : difficilius est temperare felicitati, qua 

* te non putes diu usurum. Civile bellum a Vitellio coepit, 
' et, ut de Principatu certaremus armis, initium illic fuit : 
; ne plusquam semel certemus, penes me exemplum erit : 

* hinc Othonem posteritas aestimet. Fruetur Vitellius fra- 
1 tre, conjuge, liberis : mihi non ultione, neque solatiis 
v opus est. Alii diutius Imperium tenuerint : nemo tam 
' fortiter reliquerk. An ego tantum Roman ae pubis, tot 

* egregios exercitus, sterni rursus, et Reipublicae eripi pa- 

* tiar ? Eat hie mecum animus, tamquam perituri pro me 
\ fueritis : sed este superstates : nee diu moremur, ego in- 

* columitatem vestram, vos constantiam meam. Plura de 
1 extremis loqui, pars ignaviae est : praecipuum destinatio- 
' nis meae documentum habete, quod de nemine queror : 

* nam incusare Deos vel homines, ejus est, qui vivere velit.* 

XLVI1I. Talia locutus, ut cuique aetas aut dignitas, comi- 



c Furore quodam ei instinctu, for, quodam instinctu furoris. 

f Tacitus has told us that Otho's mind was not like his body, dis- 
solved in luxury; Hist. i. s. 22. His speech on this occasion shows 
that he could think with dignity, 



76 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 8M?< 

ter adpellatos, 'irent propere,neu remanendo iram victoris 

* asperarent,' juvenes auctoritate, senes precibus movebat-: 
placidus ore, intrepidus verbis, intempestivas suorum la- 
crimas coercens. ' Dari naves ac vehicula' abeuntibus ju- 
bet : libellos epistolasque, studio erga se aut in Vitellium 
contumeliis insignes, abolet : pecunias distribuit, parce, 
nee ut periturus. Mox Salvium Cocceianum, fratris filium, 

J>rima juventa, trepidum et maerentem, ultro solatus est, 
audando, i pietatem' ejus, castigando ' formidinem : an 

* Vitellium tam inmitis animi fore, ut, pro incolumi totado- 
< mo, ne banc quidem sibi gratiam redderet ? mereri se 
' festinato exitu clementiam victoris. Non enim ultima 
c desperatione, sed poscente prcelium exercitu, remisisse 
w Reipublicae novissimum casum. Satis sibi nominis, satis 
' posteris suis nobilitatis quaesitum : post Julios, Claudios, 
1 Servios, (g) se primum in familiam novam Imperium in- 
4 tulisse : proinde erecto animo capesseret vitam, neu, pa- 
c truam sibi Othonem fuisse, aut oblivisceretur unquam, aut 

* nimiam meminisset,' 

XLIX. Post quae, dimotis omnibus, paullum requievit : 
atque ilium, supremas jam curas animo volutantem, repens 
tumultus avertit, nuntiata consternatione ac licentia mili- 
tum : namque abeuntibus exitium minitabantur ; atrocissi- 
ma in Verginium (h) vi, quern, clausa domo, obsidebant : 
increpitis seditionis auctoribus, regressus, vacavit abeunti- 
um adloquiis, donee omnes inviolati digrederentur. Ves- 
perascente die, sitim haustu gelidae aquae sedavit : turn ad- 
latis pugionibus duobus, cum utrumque pertentasset, alte- 
rum capiti subdidit : et explorato, jam profectos amicos, 
noctem quietam, utque adfirmatur, non insomnem egit. 
Luce prima, in ferrum pectore incubuit : ad gemitum mori- 
entis ingressi liberti servique et Plotius Firmus, Praetorii 
Praefectus, unum vulnus invenere. Funus maturatum am- 
bitiosis id precibus petierat, ' ne amputaretur caput, (i) 

g Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula, were of the Julian line ; Clau- 
dius and Nero (by adoption ) were of the Claudian ; Galba was of the 
house of Servius ; Otho of the Salvian family. 

h This was Verginius Rufus, who conquered Vindex, in Gaul, and 
had the moderation to decline the imperial dignity when offered him 
by the legions. 

i Nero, in his last distress, fearing that his head would be exhibited 
as a public spectacle, gave directions for his funeral, Otho did the 
same : though tainted with Nero's vices, he closed the scene with 
ctignitv. 



*. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 7T 

• ludibrio futurum.' Tulere corpus Praetoriae cohortes, 
cum laudibus et lacrimis, vulnus manusque ejus exosculan- 
tes. Quidam militum, juxta rogum interfecere se ; non 
noxa, neque ob metum, sed aemulatione decoris et caritate 
Principis : ac postea promiscue Bedriaci, Placentiae aliisque 
in castris, celebratum id genus mortis. Othoni sepulcrum 
exstructum est modicum et mansurum. 

L. Hunc vitae finem habuit septimo et tricesimo aetatis 
anno. Origo illi e municipio Ferentino. Pater Consula- 
ris : avus Praetorius : maternum genus inpar, nee tamen 
indecorum : pueritia ac juventa, qualem, monstravimus, 
duobus facinoribus, (j) altero flagitiosissimo, altero egregio, 
tantundem apud posteros meruit bonae famae, quantum 
malae. Ut conquirere fabulosa, et fictis oblectare legen- 
tium animos, procul gravitate coepti operis crediderim : ita 
vulgatis traditisque demere fidem non ausim. ■ Die, quo 
1 Bedriaci certabatur, avem invisitata specie apud Regium 

* Lepidum (k) celebri loco consedisse, 5 incolas memorant, 
' nee deinde costu hominum, aut circumvolitantium alitum, 
4 territam pulsamve, donee Otho se ipse interticeret : turn 
1 ablatam ex oculis : et tempora reputantibus, initium finera- 
1 que miraculi cum Othonis exitu compertisse.' 

LI. In funere ejus, novata luctu ac dolore mijitum sedi- 
tio : nee erat, qui coerceret. Ad Verginium versi. modo, 
1 ut reciperet Imperium,' nunc, ' ut legatione apud Caeci- 
4 nam ac Valentem fungeretur,' minitantes orabant. Ver- 
ginius, per aversam domus partem furtim degressus, in- 
rumpentes frustratus est. Earum, quae Brixelli egerant, 
cohortium preces Rubrius Gallus tulit. Et venia statim im- 
petrata, concedentibus ad victorem, per Flavium Sabinum, 
iis copiis, quibus praefuerat. 

LII. Posito ubique bello, magna pars Senatus extremum 
discrimen adiit, profecta cum Othone ab urbe, dein Muti- 
nae relicta : illuc adverso de prcelio adlatum : sed milites, 
ut falsum rumorem adversantes, quod infensum Othoni Se- 
natum arbitrabantur, custodire sermones, vultum habitum- 
que trahere in deterius : conviciis postremo ac probris 
caussam et initium caedis quaerebant : cum alius insuper 
metus Senatoribus instaret, ne, praevalidis jam Vitelii parti- 
bus, cunctanter accepisse victoriam crederentur : ita tre- 

j The murder of Galba, and hi3 own death. 

k Regium Lepidum, now called Reg-^io, not far from Brixellum. 




78 C. CORN. TAC1TL a. u. g. 822. 

pidi et utrimque anxii coeimt : nemo privatim expedito con- 
silio, inter multos societate culpa? tutior. Onerabat pa- 
ventium curas ordo Mutinensis, (/) ' arrna et pecuniam' of- 
ferendo, adpellabatque * Patres Conscriptos,' intempestivo 
honore. 

LIU. Notabile jurgium inde fuit, quo Licinius Caeeina 
Marcellum Eprium, 6 ut ambigua disserentem,' (to) invasit. 
Nee ceteri sententias aperiebant : sed invisum memoria 
delationum, expositumque ad invidiam, Marcelli nomen in- 
ritaverat Cascinam, ut novus adhuc, et in Senatum nuper 
adscitus, magnis inimicitiis claresceret. Moderatione me- 
liorum dirempti. Et rediere omnes Bononiam, rursus 
consiiiaturi : (n) simul, medio temporis, plures nuntii spe- 
rabantur. Bononiae, divisis per itinera, qui recentissimum 
quemque percunctarentur, interrogatus Othonis libertus 
* caussam digressus, habere se suprema ejus mandata 5 res- 
pondit : i ipsum viventem quidem relictum, sed sola pos- 
c teritatis cura et abruptis vita? blandimentis.' Hinc admi- 
ratio et plura interrogandi pudor : atque omnium animi in 
Vitellium inclinavere. 

LIV. Intereat consiliis frater ejus L. Vitellius, seque 
jam adulantibus offerebat, cum repente Coenus, libertus 
Neronis, atroci mendacio universos perculit, adfirmans, 
• superventu quartaedecimas legionis, junctis a Brixello vi- 
' ribus, caesos victores, versam partium fortunam.' Causa 
fingendi fuit, ut diplomata (o) Othonis, quae negligebantur, 
laetiore nuntio revalescerent. Et Coenus quidem rapide in 
urbem vectus, paucos post dies jussu Vitellii poenas luit. 
Senatorum^ericulum auctum, credentibus Othonianis mi- 
litibus vera esse, quae adferebantur. Intendebat formidi- 
nem, quod publici consilii facie discessum Mutina, deser- 
taeque partes forent. Nee ultra in commune congressi, 
sibi quisque consuluere : donee missae a Fabio Valente 
epistolaB demerent metum. Et mors Othonis, quo lauda- 
bilior, eo velocius audita. 

I Ordo Mutinensis, the public council of the city. 

m Ambigua disserentem, making use of doubtful or ambiguous ex- 
pressions. 

n Rursus consiiiaturi. Ryckius gives consulturi. 

o Diplomata, were writs conferring any exclusive right or privi- 
lege, granted by the Emperor, or any Roman magistrate, similar to 
what we call letters patent ; given particularly to public couriers, or 
to those who wished to have the use of public horses or carriages fov. 
dispatch ; in which last sense it is here used ; 



j. c. 69. H1ST0R. LIB. SECUNDUS. 79 

LV. At Romae nihil trepidationis : Cereales ludi (p) ex 
more spectabantur. * Ut cessisse vita Othonem, et a Fla- 
1 vio Sabino, Praefecto urbis, quod erat in urbe militam, 
1 sacramento Vitellii adactum,' certi auctores in theatrum 
adtulerunt, ' Vitellio' plausere : populus cum lauru ac flo- 
ribus Galbae imagines circum templa tulit, congestis in mo- 
dum tumuli coronis, juxta lacum Curtii, quern locum Galba 
moriens sanguine infecerat. In Senatu cuncta, longis alio- 
rum Principatibus composita, statim decernuntur. Additae 
* erga Germanicos exerckus laudes gratesque,' etmissale- 
gatio, quae gaudio fungeretur. Recitatae Fabii Valentis 
epistolae, ad Consules scriptae haud inmoderate : gratior 
Csecinse modestia fuit, quod non scripsisset. 

LVI. Ceterum Italia gravius atque atrocius, quam bello, 
adflictabatur : dispersi per municipia et colonias Vitelliani, 
spoliare, rapere, vi et stupris polluere : in omne fas ne- 
fasque avidi aut venales, (g) non sacro, non profano absti- 
nebant. Et fuere, qui inimicos suos, specie militum, inter- 
ficerent. Ipsique milites, regionum gnari, refertos agros, 
dites dominos, in praedam, aut, si repugnatum foret, ad ex- 
cidium destinabant : obnoxiis ducibus et prohibere non 
ausis : minus avaritiae in Caecina, plus ambitionis : Valens, 
ob lucra et quaestus infamis, eoque alienae etiam culpae dis- 
simulator, (r) Jam pridem adtritis Italiae rebus, tantum 
peditum equitumque, vis damnaque et injuriae, a&gre tole- 
rabantur. 

LVII. Interim Vitellius, victorias suae nescius, ut ad in- 
tegrum bellum, reliquas Germanici exercitus vires trahe- 
bat. Pauci veterum militum in hibernis relicti, festinatis 
per Gallias delectibus, ut remanentium legionum nomina 
supplerentur Cura ripae (s) Hordeonio Flacco permissa : 
ipse e Britannico delectu octo millia sibi adjunxit : et, pau- 
corum dierum iter progressus, ' prosperas apucl Bedriacum 
i res, ac morte Othonis concidisse bellum,' accepit. Voca- 
ta concione, virtutem militum laudibus cumulat, Postulan- 



ts Cereales ludi, were festivals in honour of Ceres, continuing from 
the 12th to the 19th of April. Otho was Emperor ninety-five days; 
from the 15th of January to the 19th of April. 

q Avidi aut venales ; influenced by their own avarice, or hired by 
others. 

r Valens had become infamous by his rapacity, and was therefore 
obliged to connive when he saw his own vices practised by others. 

s Cura ripai. i. e. of the Rhine, lest the Germans should pass ever 



80 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 

te exercitu, * ut libertum suum, Asiaticum, Equestri digni- 
' tate donaret,' inhonestam adulationem compescit. Dein, 
mobilitate ingenii, quod palam abnuerat, inter secreta con- 
viyii largitur ; honoravitqae Asiaticum annulis,foedum man- 
♦:ipium et malis artibus ambitiosum. 

LVIII. Iisdem diebus, ' accessisse partibus utramque 
1 Mauretaniam, interfecto Procuratore Albino,' nuntii ve- 
nere. Luceius Albinus, a Nerone MauretaniaB Ca3sariensi 
praspositus, addita per Galbam Tingitanae provincial admi- 
nistration's, baud spernendis viribus agebat. Novemdecim 
eohortes, quinque alas, ingens Maurorum numerus aderat, 
per latrocinia et raptus apta bello manus. Caeso Galba, 
in Othonem pronus, nee Africa contentus, Hispaniae, angus- 
to freto (t) diremptae, inminebat. Inde Ciuvio Rufo me- 
tus : ' et decimam legionem propinquare litori,' ut trans- 
missurus, jussit : prasmissi Centuriones, qui Maurorum 
animos Vitellio conciiiarent : neque arduum fuit, magna 
per provincias Germanici exercitus fama. Spargebatur in- 
super, ' spreto' Procuratoris ' vocabulo, Albinum insigne 
4 Regis,' et Jubae ' nomen usurpare.' 

LIX* Ita mutatis animis, Asinius Pollio, alae Praefectus, 
e fidissimis Albino, et Festus ac Scipio, cobortium Praefec- 
ti, opprimuntur. Ipse Albinus, dum e Tingitana provincia 
Caesariensem Mauretaniam petit, adpulsus litori trucidatur : 
uxor ejus, cum se percussoribus obtulisset, simul interfecta 
est : nihil eorum, quae fierent, Vitellio anquirente : brevi 
auditu quamvis magna transibat, inpar cuns gravioribus. 
6 Exercitum itinere terrestri pergere' jubet : ipse Arare 
flumine (u) devehitur, nullo Principali paratu, sed vetere 
egestate conspicuus : (y) donee Junius Blaesus, Lugdunen- 
sis Galliae Rector, genere inlustri, largus animo et par opi- 
bus, circumdaret Principi ministeria, comitaretur liberali- 
ter ; eo ipso ingratus, quamvis odium Vitfdlius vernilibus 
blanditiis velaret. Praesto fuere Lugduni victricium victa- 
rumque partium duces. Valentem et Caecinam, pro con- 
cione laudatos, curuli suae circumposuit. Mox ' universum 
4 exercitum occurrere infanti nlio' jubet : perlatumque et 
paludamento opertum sinu retinens, ' Germanicum' adpella- 
vit ? cinxitque cunctis fortunas Principalis insignibus : nimius 



t Angusto freio ; the straits of Gibraltar. 

u Avar ; a river of Gaul; now the Saone. 

v For the extreme poverty of Vitellius, see Suet, in Vitel. s. 7 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUM 8i 

honos inter secunda, rebus adversis (w) in solatium 
cessit. 

LX. Turn interfecti Centuriones promptissimi Othonia- 
norum : undo prascipua in Vitellium alienatio per Illyricos 
exercitus. SimuJ ceterae legiones contactu, et adversus 
Germanicos milites invidia, bellum meditabantur. Sueto- 
nium Paullinum ac Licinium Proculum, tristi mora squali- 
dos tenuit, donee auditi, necessariis magis defensionibus 
quam honestis uterentur. Proditionem ultro inputabant: 
; spatium longi ante pra?lium itineris, fatigationem Othonia- 
Q norum, permixtum vehiculis agmen, ac pleraque fortuita- 
* ta, fraudi suae' adsignantes, et Vitellius credidit de perfidia, 
et fidem absolvit. (a?) Salvius Titianus, Othonis frater, 
nullum discrimen adiit, pietate et ignavia excusatus. Marie 
Celso Consulatus servatur : sed creditum fama, objectumque 
mox in Senatu Caecilio Simplici, ' quod eum honorem pe- 
tunia mercari, nee sine exitio Celsi, voluisset :' restitit 
Vitellius ; deditque postea Consulatum Simplici innoxium 
et inemptum. Trachalum adversus criminantes Galeria. 
uxor Vitellii, protexit. 

LXI. Inter magnorum virorum discrimina (pudendum 
dictu) Mariccus quidam, e plebe Boiorum, inserere sese 
Fortunae et provocare arma Romana, simulatione Numinum 
ausus est. Jamque ' adsertor Galliarum et Deus' (nomen 
id sibi indiderat) concitis octo millibus hominum, proximos 
iEduorum pagos trahebat ; cum gravissima civitas, electa 
juventute, adjectis a Yitellio cohortibus, fanaticam multitu- 
dinem disjecit. Captus in eo prcelio Mariccus ac mox feris 
objectus, quia non laniabatur, stolidum vu]gus inviolabilem 
credebat, donee, spectante Vitellio, interfectus est. 

LXII. Nee ultra in defectores, aut bona cujusquam, sas- 
vitum : rata fuere eorum, qui acie Othoniana ceciderant, 
iestamenta, aut lex intestatis : prorsus, si luxuriae tempera- 
ret, avaritiam non timeres. Epularum fceda et inexplebilis 
libido : (y) ex urbe atque Italia inritamenta gulae gestaban- 



w A short time after he had been decorated with the insignia of 
royalty, he was put to death by the order of Mucianus. 

x Pauilinug and Proculus sought a pardon from Vitellius on the 
ground that they had been treacherous to Otho ; and Vitellius, credi- 
dit de perfidia, gave them credit for their guilt, et fidem absolvit, and 
pardoned their fidelity ; i. e. to Otho. 

y Whoever desires to know more of the gluttony of Vitellius, mav 





&2 C CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822, 

tur, strepentibus ab utroque mari (z) itineribus : exhausti 
conviviorum adparatibus principes civitatum : vastabantur 
ipseB civitates : degenerabat a labore ac virtute miles, ad- 
suetudine voluptatum et contemptu Ducis. Praemisit in ur« 
bem edictum, quo vocabulum c August? differret, ' Gaesaris' 
non reciperet, cum de potestate nihil detraheret. Pulsi 
Italia mathernatici. Cautum severe, ' ne Equites Rom. 
Vludo et arena polluerentur :' (a) priores id fcrincipes pe- 
cunia et seepius vi perpulerant : ac pleraque municipia et 
eoloniae asmulabantur, conruptissimum quemque adolescen- 
lium pretio inlicere. 

LXIII. Sed Viteliius, adventu fratris, (b) et inrepenti- 
bus dominations magistris, superbior et atrocior, occidi Do- 
labellam jussit, quern in coloniam Aquinatem sepositum ab 
Othone, retulimus. (c) Dolabella, audita morte Othonis, 
urbem introierat: id ei Plancius Varus, Praetura functus, 
ex intimis Dolabellae amicis, apud Flavium Sabmum, Pras- 
Tectum urbis, objecit, ' tamquam rupta custodia, Ducem se 
' yictis partibus ostentasset :' addidit, ' tentatam cohortem, 

* quae Ostiae ageret:' nee ullis tantorum criminum proba- 
lionibus : in pcenitentiam versus seram, veniam post scelus 
quaerebat Cunctantem super tanta re Flavium Sabinum, 
Triaria, L. Vitellii, uxor, ultra feminam ferox, terruit. ne 

* periculo Principis fair. am clementiae adfectaret.' (d) Sa- 
binus, suopte ingenio mitis, ubi formido incessisset, facilis 
mutatu, et in aiieno discrimine sibi pavens, ne adlevasse 
videretur, impulit ruentum. 

LXIV. Igitur Viteliius, metu et odio, quod Petroniam, 
uxorem ejus, mox Dolabella in matrimonium accepisset, vo~ 
catum per epistolas, ' vitata Flaminiae viae celebritate, de- 

* vertere Interamnium atque ibi interfeci' jussit. Longum 
interfectori visum : in itinere ac taberna projectum bumi 
jugulavit : magna cum invidia novi Principatus, cujus hoc 

find a number of particular instances collected by Brotier, in his fourth 
edition of Tacitus, vol. iii. page 433. 

3 Utroque mare, the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas. 

a It had become customary for the knights to fight like common 
gladiators, and exhibit themselves on the public stage. Viteliius 
wished to put an end to the degrading practice. 

b This was Lucius Viteliius, whom we have seen with the senators 
at Bononia. This book, s. 54. 

c Retulimns ; see Hist. i. 8C. 

d Ne periculo, etc. that he should not seek the fame ef clemency 
.toy sacrificing the interests of the Prince. 



. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 83 

primum specimen noscebatur. Et Triariae licentiam mc~ 
destum e proximo exemplum onerabat, Galeria Imperatoris 
uxor, non inmixta tristibus :(e) et pari probitate mater Vi- 
telliorum, Sextilia, antiqui moris. Dixisse quin etiam, ad 
primas filii sui epistolas, ferebatur, ( non Germanicum a se, 
1 sed Vitellium genitum.' Nee ullis postea fortunae inlcce- 
bris, aut ambitu civitatis, in gaudium evicta, (/) domus suas 
tantum adversa sensit. 

LXV. Digressum a Lugduno Vitellium M. Cluvius Rufus 
adsequitur, omissa Hispania ; lastitiam et gratulationem vultu 
ferens, animo anxius et petittim se criminationibus gnarus. 
Hilafius, Caesaris libertus, detulerat, ' tamquam, audito Vi- 
* tellii et Othonis Principatu, propriara ipse potentiam et 
' possessionem Hispaniarum tentasset : eoque diplomati- 
c bus (g) nullum Principem prasscripsisset. 5 Interpretaba- 
tar quaedam ex oration i bus ejus, contumcliosa in Vitellium, 
et pro se ipso popularia. Auctoritas Cluvii prapvaluit. ut 
puniri ultro libertum suum Vitellius juberet. Cluvius co- 
mitatui Principis adject us, non adempta Hispania, quam 
rexit absens, exemplo L. Arruntii : eum Tiberius Caesar ob 
metum, Vitellius Cluvium nulla formidine retinebat. Non 
idem Trebellio Maximo honos : profugerat Britannia, ob 
iracundiam militum : missus est in locum ejus Vettius Bola- 
nus e praesentibus. 

LXVI. Angebat Vitellium victarum legionum haudqua- 
quam fractus animus : sparsa? per Italiam et victoribus per- 
mixtae, hostilia loquebantur : prsecipua quartadecimanorum 
fefoeia, qui ' se victos 1 abnuebant : ' quippe Bedriacensi 
; acie, vexillariis tantum pulsis, vires legionis non adfuisse. 
Remitti eos in Britanniam, unde a Nerone exciti erant, pla- 
cet ; atque interim Batavorum cohortes una tendere, ob 
veterem adversus quartadecimanos discordiam. Nee din. 
iii tantis armatorum odiis, quies fiiit. Augustas Taurine- 
rum, Qi) dum opificem quendam Batavus ut fraudatorum 



e Ji*on inmixta tristibus, taking no part in any wicked design. 

f Wee ullis postea, etc. She was not elated by the smiles of fortune 
or the flattery of the citizens ; she was aifected only by the misfor- 
tunes of her family. 

g Diplomatibusy see s. 54th of this book. 

h Augusta Taurinorum. The Taurini were a people dwelling at 
the foot of the Alps. Their capital was called after Augustus Caesar 
Augusta Taurinorum, who planted a eolony there. The modern 
name is Turin, the capital of Piedmont, 



U C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

insectatur, legionarius ut hospitera tuetur, sui cuique com- 
militones adgregati, a coaviciis ad caedem transiere : et prce- 
lium atrox exarsisset, ni duae Praetoriae cohortes, caussam 
quartadecimanorum secutae, his fiduciam et metum Batavis 
fecissent : ' quos' Vitellius ' agmini suojungi,' ut fidos, 'le- 
v gionem, Graiis Alpibus traductam, eo flexu itineris ire* 
jubet, ' quo Viennam vitarent:' namque et Viennenses ti- 
mebantur. Nocte, qua proficiscebatur legio, relictis passim 
ignibus, pars Taurina? Coloniae ambusta : quod damnum., 
ut pleraque belli mala, majoribus aliarum urbium cladibus 
oblitteratum, Quartadecimani postquam Alpibus degressi 
sunt, seditiosissimus quisque signa Viennam ferebant : con- 
sensu meliorum compressi et legio in Britanniam transvecta. 

LXVII. Proximus Vitellio e Praetoriis cohortibus metus 
erat : sepafati primum, deinde, additas honestae missionis 
lenimento, arma ad Tribunos suos deferebant : donee mo- 
tum a Vespasiano bellum crebresceret : turn, resumpta mi- 
litia, robur Flav r ianarum partium fuere. Prima classicorum 
legio in Hispaniam missa, ut pace et otio mitesceret : Unde- 
cima ac septima suis hibernis redditae : Tertiadecimani stru- 
ere amphitheatra jussi : nam Caecina Cremonae, Yalens 
Bononiae, spectaculum gladiatorum edere parabant : num- 
quam ita ad curas intento Vitellio, ut voluptatum oblivisce- 
retur. 

LXVIII. Et quidem partes (i) modeste distraxerat : apud 
victores orta seditio, ludicro initio, nisi numerus caesorum 
invidiam bello auxisset. Discubuerat Vitellius Ticini, ad- 
hibito ad epulas Verginio. Legati Tribunique, ex moribus 
Imperatorum, severitatem aemulantur, vel tempestivis con- 
viviis gaudent : perinde miles intentus, aut licenter agit* 
Apud Vitellium omnia indisposita, temulenta, pervigiliis ac 
Bacchanalibus, (j) quam disciplinae et castris, propiora. 
Igitur duobus militibus, altero legionis quintan, altero e Gal- 
lis auxiliaribus, per lasciviam, ad certamen luctandi accen- 
sis, postquam legionarius prociderat, insultante Gallo, et 
jis, qui ad spectandum convenerant, in studia diductis, eru- 

i Paries, the forces which had favoured Otho. 

; The Bacchanalia, or sacred rites of Bacchus were celebrated 
every third year in the nighttime, when the most shameful excesses 
were committed. Pervigilia were nightly assemblies of the same 
nature in honour of some god. Tacitus means that the soldiers of 
Vitellius seemed rather a Bacchanalian assembly than a disciplined 
'irrav, 



s. c. 6d, HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. S5 

pere legionarii in perniciem auxiliorum, ac duae cohortes 
interfectae. Remedium tumultus fuit alius tumultus, pulvis 
procul et arma adspiciebantur : conclamatum repente, i quar- 
6 tamdecimam legionem, verso itinere, ad proelium venire *J 
sed erant agrninis coactores : agniti dempsere sollicitudinem 
Interim Verginii servus forte obvius, ut ' percussor Vitellii* 
insimulatur : et ruebat ad convivium miles, 'mortem Vergi- 
nii' exposcens. Ne Vitellius quidem, quamquam ad omne? 
suspiciones pavidus, de innocentia ejus dubitavit : aegre ta~ 
men cohibiti, qui exitium viri Consularis, et quondam Ducis 
sui, flagitabant. Nee quemquam saepius, quam Yerginium. 
omnis seditio infestavit : manebat admiratio viri et fama : 
sed aderant, ut fastiditi. 

LXIX. Postero die, Vitellius, Senatus, legatione, quam 
ibi opperiri jusserat, audita, transgressus in castra, ultro 
1 pietatem militum' conlaudavit : frementibus auxiliis, ■ tan- 
i turn inpunitatis atque adrogantiae legionariis, accessisse. ? 
Cohortes Batavorum, ne quid truculentius auderent, in 
Germaniam remissae : principium interno simui externoque 
bello parantibus fatis. (&) Reddita civitatibus Gallorum 
auxilia, ingens numerus, et prima statim defectione inter 
mania belli (/) adsuroptus. Ceterum, ut largitionibus ad- 
fecta? jam Imperii opes sufficerent, ' amputari legionum 
* auxiliorumque numeros' jubet, vetitis supplements : et 
promiscuae missiones offerebantur : exitiabile id Reipubli- 
cae, ingratum militi. cui eadem munia inter paucos, pericu- 
laque ac labor crebrius redibant, et vires luxu conrumpe- 
bantur, contra veterem disciplinam, et instituta majorum ; 
apud quos virtute, quam pecunia, res Romana melius 
stetit. 

LXX. Inde Vitellius Cremonam flexit, et, spectato mu- 
nere Cascinae, insistere Bedriacensibus campis, ac vestigia 
recentis victoriae lustrare oculis concupivit. Foedum atque 
atrox spectaculum : intra quadragesimum pugnae diem lace- 
ra corpora, trunci artus, putres virorum equorumque for- 
mae, infecta tabo humus, protritis arboribus ac frugibus dira 
vastitas : nee minus inhumana pars viae, (m) quam Cremo- 



k Interno— externoque bello. The foreign war was with the Bata- 
viatis, under Civilis ; the domestic, with Vespasian. 

I'Et prima — adsumptus. Drawn together in the beginning of the 
revolt, for vain parade, to swell the pomp of a numerous army. 

m Nee minus inhumana pars vice. Tacitus thinks it argues a want 

9 * 



Oil 



C. CORN. TACi'ri. 



a. u. c. S22. 



nenses lauro rosisque constraverant, exstriictis altaribus cae- 
sisque victimis, Regium in morem : quae, laeta in praesens, 
raox perniciem ipsis fecere. Aderant Valens et Caecina, 
monstrabantque pugnae locos : ' hinc inrupisse legionum 
6 agmen, hinc equites coortos : incle circumfusas auxiliorum 
1 manus.' Jam Tribuni Praefectique, sua quisque facta ex- 
tollentes ; falsa, vera, aut majora vero niiscebant. Vul- 
gus quoque militum, clamore et gaudio deflectere via, spa- 
tia certaminum recognoscere, aggerera armorum, struts 
corporum intueri, mirari. Et erant, quos varia sors rerum, 
lacrimseque et misericordia subiret: at non Vitellius flexit 
oculos, nee tot millia insepultorum civium exhorruit : lsetus 
ultro, et tarn propinquas sortis ignarus, instaurabat sacrum 
Diis loci. 

LXX1. ExinBononiae a Fabio Valente gladiatorum spec- 
taculum editur, advecto ex urbe cultu. Quantoque magis 
propinquabat, tanto conruptius iter, inmixtis histfionibus et 
cetero Neronianas aulas ingenio : namque et Neronem ip- 
sum Vitellius admiratione celebrabat, sectari cantantem 
solitus, non necessitate, qua honestissimus quisque, sed 
luxu et saginae mancipatus emptusque. Ut Valenti et Cseci- 
nas vacuos honoris menses aperiret, coarctati aliorum Con- 
sulates, dissimulatus Martii Macri, (n) namquam Othonia- 
narum partium Ducis : et Valerium Marinum. destinatum 
aGalba Consulem, distulit, nulla offensa, sed mitem et inju- 
riam segniter laturum. Pedanius Costa omittitur, ingratus 
Principi, ut adversus Neronem ausus, et Verginii exstimula- 
tor : sed alias protulit caussas : actaeque insuper Vitellio 
gratias, consuetudine servitii. 

LXXII. Non ultra paucos dies, quamquam acribus initiis 
coeptum, mendacium valuit. Exstiterat quidam, 4 Scribo- 

* nianum se Camerinum (o) ferens, Neronianorum tempo- 

* rum metuin Istria occuitatum, quod illic clientelae et agri 
' veterum Crassorum ac nominis favor manebat.' Igitur 
deterrimo quoque in argumentum fahulae adsumpto, vulgusr 
credulum et quidam militum, errore veri, seu turbarum stu- 



of humanity in the people of Cremona, because they strewed the way 
with laurels and roses, after so terrible a carnage and amidst the hor- 
rors that covered the face of the country. 

n Martius ? lacer commanded the gladiators of Otho on the banks 
7>f the Po. This book, s. 28. 

o Sulpicius Camermus and his son were put to death by the ordei 
*f Helius Nero's freedman, A. U. C. §20. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 8? 

dio, certatim adgregabantur : cum pertractus ad Vitellium 
interrogatusque, ' quisnam mortalium esset,' postquam 
nulla dictis fides, et a domino noscebatur, conditione fugiti- 
vus, nomine ' Geta,' sumptum de eo supplicium servilem in 
modum. (p) 

LXXII1. Vix credibile memoratu est, quantum superbiaB 
socordiaeque Vitellio adoleverit, postquam speculatores e 
Syria Judaeaque, * adactum in verba ejus Orientem,' nun- 
tiavere. Nam, etsi vagis adhuc et incertis auctoribus, erat 
tamen in ore famaque Vespasianus, ac plerumque ad nomen 
ejus Vitellius excitabatur. Turn ipse, exercitusque, ut 
nullo aemulo, saevitia, libidine, raptu, in externos mores pro- 
Tuperant. 

LXXIV. At Vespasianus bellum armaque, et procul vel 
juxta sitas vires, circumspectabat. Miles ipsi adeo paratus, 
ut praeeuntem sacramentum, (q) et fausta Vitellio omnia pre- 
cantem, per silentium audierint. Muciani animus nee Ves- 
pasiano alienus, et in Titum pronior. Praefectus ^Egypti, 
Ti. Alexander, consilia sociaverat. Tertiam legionem, 
quod e Syria in Moesiamtransisset, suam numerabat : cete- 
rae Illyrici legiones secuturae sperabantur. Namque omnes 
exercitus flammaverat adrogantia venientium a Vitellio mili- 
tum ; quod truces corpore, horridi sermone, ceteros, ut in- 
pares, inridebant. Sed in tanta mole belli plerumque cunc- 
tatio : et Vespasianus, modo in spem erectus, aliquando 
adversa reputabat : ' Quis ille dies foret, quo sexaginta aeta- 
i tis an nos etduos filios juvenes (r) bello permitteret ? Esse 

* privatis cogitationibus progressum, et, prout velint, plus 
' minusve sumi ex Fortuna : Imperium cupientibus nihil me- 
'dium inter summa et praecipitia.' 

LXXV. Versabatur ante oculos Germanici exercitus ro- 
bur, notum viro militari : ' Suas legiones civili bello inex- 

* pertas ; Vitellii, victrices ; et apud victos plus querimoni- 
' arum, quam virium : fiuxam per discordias militum fidem 9 

* et periculum ex singulis. Quid enim profuturas cohortes 

* alasque, si unus alterquc prsssenti facinori paratum ex di- 
" verso praemium petal ? Sic Scribonianum sub Claudio in- 

* terfectum : sic percussorem ejus, Volaginium, e gregario 



p Slaves, when condemned to death, were crucified. 
q P r&euntem sacramentum ; first to take the oath. 
r Vespasian's two sons, Titus and Doniitian, 



88 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

* ad summa militiae provectum. Facilius universos inpelli, 
«quam singulos vitari. 

LXXVI. Hispavoribus nutantem, et alii Legati amicique 
firmabant, etMucianus, post multos secretosque sermones, 
jam et coram (s) ita locutus : 4 Omnes, qui magnarum rerum 
« consilia suscipiunt, aestimare debent, an, quod inchoatur, 

* Reipublicae utile, ipsis gloriosum, aut promptum effectu, 
•■aut certe non arduum sit. Simul ipse, qui suadet, conside- 
1 randus est, adjiciatne consilio periculum suum : et, si For- 
fi tuna coeptis adfuerit, cui summum decus adquiratur. Ego 
'te, Vespasiane, ad Imperium voco, tam salutare Reipubli- 
i cae, quam tibi inagnificum. Juxta Deos, in tua manu posi- 
i turn est. Nee speciem adulantis expaveris : a contumelia, 
r quam a laude propius fuerit, post Vitellium; eligi. (t) Non 
' adversus D. Augusti acerrimam mentem, nee adversus cau- 
•tissimain Tiberii senectutem, ne contra Caii quidem, aut 

* Claudii, vel Neronis, fundatam longo Imperio domum ex- 
1 surgimus : cessisti etiam Galbae imaginibus : torpere ultra, 
4 et polluendam perdendamque Rempublicam relinquere, 
4 sopor et ignavia videretur, etiam si tibi, quam inhonesta, 
Ham tutaservitus esset. Abiitjam et transvectum est tem- 
' pus, quo posses videri concupisse : confugiendum est ad 
< Imperium. (u) An excidit trucidatus Corbulo ? (v) splen- 
c didior origine, quam nos sumus, fateor : sed et Nero, nobili 

* tate natalium, Vitellium anteibat. Satis clarus est apud 
i timentem, quisquis timetur. Et posse ab exercitu Princi- 
4 pern fieri, sibi ipse Vitellius documento ; nullis stipendiis, 

* nullo militari fama, Galbae odio provectus. Nee Othonem 
6 quidem Ducis arte, aut exercitus vi, sed praepropera ipsius 
6 desperatione vietum, jam desiderabilem et magnum Prh> 

* cipem fecit. Cum interim spargit legiones, exarmat co- 

* hortes, nova quotidie bello semina (w) ministrat : si quid 
' ardoris ac ferociae miles habuit, popinis et comissationibu's 



s Jam et coram. Many being present— publicly. 

t A contumelia — eligi. To be elected Emperor after Vitellius, is 
rather a disgrace than an honour. 

u Abiit jam —imperium. Murphy translates this sentence ; But 
ambition is not now imputed to you for the first time. You have been 
long suspected, and nothing remains but vigorous enterprise. 

v Corbulo was put to death by Nero. 

to Nova bello semina. Thus he calls the legions and cohorts which 
had been disbanded by Vitellius, and were, on this account, enraged 
against him. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 89 

* et Principis imitatione, deteritur. Tibi e Judaea et Syria 

* et yEgypto novem legiones integrae, nulla acie exhaustae, 
4 non discordia conruptae : sed firmatus usu miles, et belli 

4 domitor externi : classium, alarum, cohortium robora ; et 
1 iidissimi Reges : et tua ante omnes experiential 

LXXVI1. ' Nobis nihil ultra adrogabo, quam ne post Va- 
•' lentem ac Caecinam nurneremur. Ne tamen Mucianum 
1 socium spreveris, quia aemulum non experiris : me Vitel- 

* lio antepono, te mihi. Tuae domui triumphale nomen, 

* duojuvenes, capax jam Imperii alter, et primis militiae an- 

* nis apud Germanicos quoque exercitus clarus. (rr) Ab- 
' surdum fuerit, non cedere Imperio ei, cujus filium adopta- 
1 turus essem, si ipse imperarem. Ceterum inter nos non 

* idem prosperarum adversarumque rerum ordo erit. Nam, 
' si vincimus, honorem, quem dederis, habeho : discrimen 
■ ac pericula ex aequo patiemur : immo, ut melius est, tu hos 

* exercitus rege ; mihi bellum et prceliorum incerta trade, 
1 Acriore hodie disciplina victi, quam victores agunt : hos 
'ira, odium, ultionis cupiditas ad virtutem accendit : illi, 
1 per fastidium et contumaciam, hebescunt. Aperiet et re- 
1 cludet contecta et tumescentia victricium partium vulnera 

* bellum ipsum. Nee mihi major in tua rigilantia, parsimo- 
1 nia, sapientia, fiducia est, quam in Vitellii torpore, inscitia, 
1 saevitia. Sed et meliorem in bello caussam, quam in pace 
; habemus : nam qui deliberant, desciverunt,' 

LXXVIII. Post Muciani orationem ceteri audentius cir- 
cumsistere, hortari, ' responsa vatum et siderum motus' re* 
ferre. Nee erat intactus tali superstitione, ut qui mox, 
rerum dominus, Seleucum quendam, mathematicum, rec- 
torem et praescium palam habuerit Recursabant animo 
Vetera omina, (y) cupressus arbor in agris ejus, conspicua 
altitudine, repente prociderat ; ac postera die, eodem ves- 
tigio resurgens, procera et latior virebat : grande id pro- 
sperumque, consensu Haruspicum : et summa claritudo ju- 
veni admodum Vespasiano promissa. Sed primo triumphalia 
et Consulatus et Judicae Victoria? decus, inplesse fidem omi- 

x Triumphale nomtn. In the reign of Claudius, Vespasian had 
obtained the honour of a triumph for his conduct in Britain. Suet, in 
Vesp. s. 4. His son Titus had served with the rank of military tribune 
in Britain as well as Germany, and gave early proofs of the modest 
merit that distinguished his character. Suet, in Tito. s. 4. 

y For a number of oracles and prodigies, see^ Suet, in Y©6p« « 

5 and 7 



90 



C. CORN. TACITI. 



a. u. c. 822. 



nis videbantur : ut haec adeptus est, portendi sibi Imperium 
credebat. Est Juda3am inter Syriamque Carmelus, (z) ita 
yocant montem Deumque : nee simulacrum Deo aut templum 
situm tradidere majores ; aram tantum et reverentiam. Illic 
sacrificanti Vespasiano, cum spes occultas versaret anirno, 
Basilides Sacerdos, inspectis identidem extis, ■ Quidquid 
■ est,' inquit, ' Vespasiane, quod paras, seu domum exstru- 
4 ere, seu prolatare agros, sive ampliare servitia, datur tibi 
' magna sedes, ingentes termini, multum hominum.' Has 
ambages et statim exceperat fama 3 et tunc aperiebat : nee 
quidquam magis in ore vulgi : crebriores apud ipsum ser- 
mones : quanto sperantibus plura dicuntur. 

LXXIX. Haud dubia destinatione discessere : Mucianus 
Antiochiam, Vespasianus Coesaream: ilia Syriae, haec Ju« 
deae caput est. Initium ferendi ad Vespasianum Imperii 
Alexandria* coeptum,festinante Tiberio Alexandro, qui Kal. 
Jul. Sacramento ejus legiones adegit. Isque primus Princi- 
patus dies in posterum celebratus, quamvis Judaicus exerci- 
tus quinto Non. Jul. apud ipsum jurasset, eo ardore, ut ne 
Titus quidem filius exspectaretur, Syria remeans, et consilio- 
rum inter Mucianum ac patrem nuntius, cunctainpetu mili- 
tumacta: non parata concione, non conjunctis legionibus. 

LXXX. Dum quaeritur tempus locusque, quodque in re 
talidifficiilimum, prima vox, dum animo spes, timor, ratio, 
casus observantur : egressum cubiculo Vespasianum pauci 
milites, solito adsistentes ordine, ut Legatum salutaturi, ' Im« 
* peratorem' salutavere. Turn ceteri adcurrere, * Caesa- 
6 rem' et ' Augustum, ? et omnia Principatus vocabula cumu- 
lare : mens a metu ad fortunam transierat. In ipso nihil 
tumidum, adrogans, aut in rebus novis novum fuit : ut pri- 
mum tantae mutationis (a) obfusam oculis caliginem disjecit, 
militariter locutus, laeta omnia et adfluentia excepit : nam- 
que id ipsum opperiens Mucianus, alacrem militem in verba 
Vespasiani adegit. Turn Antiochensium theatrum ingres* 
9us, ubi illis consultare mos est, concurrentes et in adulatio- 
nem effusos adloquitur : satis decorua etiam Graecafacundia, 
omniumque, quae dieeret atque ageret, arte quadam osten- 
tator. Nihil aeque provinciam exercitumque accendit, quam 
quod adseverabat Mucianus, 'statuisse Vitellium, ut Ger- 

Carmel, a mountain in Galilee on the Mediterranean. 

a Ut primum fantce mutationis — disjecit. Murphy translates this 
sentence ; the change dazzled his imagination : but he took time to 
allay the. hurry of his spirits 



6* 



69. HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 91 

i manic as legiones in Syriam, ad militiam opulentam quie- 
' tamque, transferret ; contra Syriacis legionibus Germanica 
J hiberna, coelo ac laboribus dura, mutarentiir." Quippe et 
provinciales sueto militum contubernio gaudebant, plerique 
necessitudinibus et propinquitatibus mixti ; et militibus ve 
tustate stipendiorum nota et familiaria castra in modum Pe- 
natium (6) diligebantur. 

LXXXI. Ante Idus Jul. Syria omnis in eodem sacramento 
idit. Accessere cum regno Sohemus, (c) haud spernendis 
viribus ; Antiochus, vetustis opibus ingens et inservientium 
Regum ditissimus : mox per occultos suorum nuncios exci- 
tus ab urbe Agrippa, (d) ignaro adhuc Vitellio, celeri navi- 
gatione properaverat : nee minore animo Regina Berenice 
partes juvabat, florens aetate formaque, et seni quoque Ves- 
pasiano magnificentia munerum grata, Quidquid provincia- 
rurn adluitur mari, Asia atque Achaia tenus, quantumque 
introrsus in Pontum et Armenios patescit, juravere : sed 
inermes Legati regebant, nondum additis Cappadocise le- 
gionibus. Consilium de summa rerum Beryti (e) ha]?itum : 
illuc Mucianus, cum Legatis Tribunisque et splendidissimo 
quoque Centurionum ac militum, venit : et e Judaico exer- 
citu lecta decora. Tan turn simul peditum equitumque, et 
aBmulantium inter se Regum paratus, speciem fortunae Prin- 
cipalis effecerant. 

LXXXII. Prima belli cura, agere delectus : revocare 
veteranos : destinantur validae civitates exercendis armorum 
officinis : apud Antiochenses aurum argentumque signatur . 
eaque cuncta per idoneos ministros, suis qussque locis, fes~ 
tinabantur. Ipse Vespasian us adire, hortari, bonos laude, 
segnes exemplo, incitare saepius, quam coercere ; vitia ma- 
gis amicorum, quam virtutes dissimulans. Multos praefec- 
tuns et procurationibus ; plerosque Senatorii ordinis honore 
percoiuit, egregios viros et mox summa adeptos ; quibusdam 
fortuna pro virtutibus fuit. Donativum militi neque Mucia- 
nus prima concione, nisi modice, ostenderat ; ne Vespasia* 
nus quidem plus civilo bello obtulit, quam alii in pace : egre- 

b In modum Penatium. As if they were their own household 
gods — figuratively for their homes. 

c Sohemus was king of the country, called Sophene. 

d Excitus nb urhe .dgrijjpa. For when Titus, having heard of the 
death of G alba, had returned to his father, Agrippa immediately has- 
tened to Rome, in order to ingratiate himself with the new Emperor, 

e Berytus, now Barut in Phoenicia. 



92 



C. CORN. TACITI. 



a. u. c. 822. 



gie firmus adversus niilitarem largitionem, eoque exercitu 
meliore. Missi ad Parthum Armeniumque legati, provisura- 
que, ne, versis ad civile bellum legionibus, terga nudaren- 
tur. Titum instare Judaeae, Vespasianum obtinere claustra 
Agypti placuit : sufficere videbantur adversus Vitelliurn 
pars copiarum et Dux Mucianus et Vespasiani nomen, ac 
nihil arduum fatis. Ad omnes exercitus Legatosque scriptae 
epistolae, praeceptumque, ' ut Prastorianos, Vitellio infen- 
* sos, reciperandae militiae prsemio invitarent.' 

LXXXIII. Mucianus cum expedita manu, sociura magis 
imperii, quam ministrum agens,non lento itinere, ne cunc- 
tari videretur, neque tamen properans, gliscere famam ipso 
spatio sinebat : gnarus, modicas vires sibi, et majora credi 
de absentibus. Sed legio sexta et tredecim vexillariorum 
millia ingenti agmine sequebantur. Classem e Ponto (/) 
Byzantium adigi jusserat : ambiguus consilii, num, omissa 
Moesia, Dyrrhachium pedite atque equite, simul longis na- 
vibus versum in Italiam mare clauderet, tuta pone tergum 
Achaia Asiaque : quas inennes exponi Vitellio, ni praesidiis 
firmarentur : atque ipsum Vitelliurn in incerto fore, quam 
partem Italia protegeret, si sibi Brundisium Tarentumque 
etLucanise Calabriaeque litora infestis classibus peterentur. 

LXXX1V. Igitur navium, militum, armorum, paratu stre- 
pere provinciae. Sed nihil seque fatigabat, quam pecunia- 
rum conquisitio : ' eos esse belli civilis nervos,' dictitans 
Mucianus, non jus aut verum in cognitionibus, sed solam 
magnitudinem opum spectabat : passim delationes : et locu- 
pletissimns quisque in praedam conrepti : quae gravia atque 
intoleranda, sed necessitate armorum excusata, etiam in 
pace mansere : ipso Vespasiano, inter initia Imperii, ad ob- 
tinendas iniquitates hand perinde obstinante : donee indul- 
gentia fortunae et pravis magistris didicit aususque est. (g) 
Propriis quoque opibus Mucianus bellum juvit, largus pri- 
vatim, quod avidius de Republica sumeret. Ceteri confe- 
rendarum pecuniarum exemplum secuti : rarissimus quisque 
eandemin reciperando licentiam habuerunt. 

LXXXV. Accelerata interim Vespasiani coepta, Illyrici 



/ Classem e Ponlo* The Romans had a fleet of forty sail, at Pon- 
tus, for the protection of that coast. 

g Vespasian, in the height of his power, did not scruple to raise 
large sums of money by severe exactions ; but the apology for his 
avarice was the liberal spirit with which he adorned Rome and Italy 
with grand and useful works. See Suet, in Vesp. s. 16. 



69. iilSTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS, 93 

exercitus studio, transgressi in partes. Tertia legio exem- 
plum ceteris Mcesiae legionibus praebuit. Octava erat ac 
septima Claudiana, inbutae favore Othonis, quamvis praelio 
non interfuissent. Aquileiam progressae, proturbatis, qui 
de Othone, nuntiabant, laceratisque vexillis, nomen ' Vitel- 
Hi' praeferentibus, rapta postremo pecunia et inter se divisa, 
hostiliter egerant. Unde metus, et ex metu consilium: 
'posse inputari Vespasiano, quae apud Vitellium excusanda 
• erant.' (h) Ita tres Mcesicae legiones per epistolas adlicie- 
bant Pannonicum exercitum, aut abnuenti vim parabant. In 
eo motu Aponius Saturninus, Moesiae rector, pessimum faci- 
inus audet ? misso Centurione ad interficiendum Tertium 
Julianum, septimae legionis Legatum, ob simultates, quibus 
caussam partium praetendebat. Julianus, comperto discri- 
mine, et gnaris locorum adscitis, per avia Moesiae, ultra 
montem Haemum profugit : nee deinde civili bello interfuit. 
per varias moras susceptum ad Vespasianum iter trahens. 
et ex nuntiis cunctabundus, aut properans. 

LXXXVI. AtinPannonia tertiadecima legio, ac septima 
Galbiana, dolorem iramque Bedriacensis pugna3 retinentes, 
haud cunctanter Vespasiano accessere, vi praecipua Primi 
Antonii. Is legibus nocens et tempore Neronis falsi dam- 
natus, (i) inter alia belli mala, Senatorium ordinem recipe- 
raverat. Praepositus a Galba septimae legioni, scriptitasse 
Othoni credebatur, ducem se partibus offerens : a quo neg- 
lectus, in nullo Othoniani belli usu fuit : labantibus Vitellii 
rebus, Vespasianum secutus, grande momentum addidit ; 
strenuus manu, sermone promptus, ferendae in alios invidiam 
artifex, discordiis et seditionibus potens, raptor, largitor, 
pace pessimus, bello non spernendus. Juncti inde Moesici 
ac Pannonici exercitus, Dalmaticum militem traxere quam- 
quam Consularibus Legatis nihil turbantibus. Titus Am- 
pius Flavianus Pannoniam, Poppaeus Silvanus Dalmatiam 
tenebant, divites senes. Sed Procurator aderat Cornelius 
Fuscus, vigens aetate, claris natalibus : prima juventa, quie- 
tis cupidine, Senatorium ordinem exuerat : idem pro Galba 
dux coloniae suae, eaque opera Procurationem adeptus, 
susceptis Vespasiani partibus, acerrimam bello facem prae- 



h Posse impulari — erant. Required a pardon from Vitellius, but 
with Vespasian stood in the light of a real merit 

% Primus Antonius, now the leader of Vespasian's armies, had been 
formerly convicted of extortion. See Annals xiv. s* 18. 

10 



94 C. CORN. TACITI. a. t. c. 82£, 

tulit : non tarn praemiis periculorum, quam ipsis periculte 
lastus : pro certis et olim partis nova, ambigua, ancipitia 
malebat. Igitur movere et quatere, quidquid usquaii* 
aegrum foret, adgrediuntur. (j) Scripts in Britanniam ad 
quartadecimanos, in Hispaniam ad primanos epistolae ; 
quod utraque legio pro Othone, adversa Vitellio fuerat : 
sparguntur per Gallias litterae : momentoque temporis 
flagrabat ingens bellum, Illyricis exercitibus palam descis- 
centibus, ceteris fortunam secuturis. 

LXXXVII. Dum haec per provincias a Vespasiano Duci- 
busque partium geruntur, Vitellius contemptior in dies 
segniorque,ad omnes municipiorum villarumque amoenitates 
resistens, gravi urbem agmine petebat. Sexaginta millia 
armatorum sequebantur, licentia conrupta : calonum nu- 
merus amplior : procacissimis etiam inter servos lixarum 
ingeniis : tot Legatorum amicorumque comitates, inhabilis 
ad parendum, etiam si summa modestia regeretur, One- 
rabant multitudinem obvii ex urbe Senatores Equitesque : 
quidam metu, multi per adulationem, ceteri ac paullatim 
omnes, ne, aliis proiiciscentibus, ipsi remanerent. Adgre- 
gabantur e plebe, flagitiosa per obsequia Vitellio cogmti. 
scume, histriones, aurigae, quibus ille amicitiarum debo- 
nestamentis mire gaudebat. Nee colonise modo, aut mu- 
nicipia, congests copiarum (&) sed ipsi cultores arvaque, 
maturis jam frugibus, ut hostile solum vastabantur. 

LXXXVIII. Multas et atroces inter se militum casdes, 
post seditionem Ticini coeptam manente legionum auxi- 
fiorumque discordia ; ubi adversus paganos certandum fo- 
ret, consensu. Sed plurima strages ad septimum ab urbe 
lapidem : singulis ibi militibus Vitellius paratos cibos, ut 
gladiatoriam saginam, dividebat: et effusa plebes totis se 
oa'Stris miscuerat. Incuriosos milites, vernacula utebantur 
urbanitate, quidam spoliavere, abscisis furtim balteis, ' an 
' accincti forent, 5 rogitantes. Non tulit ludibrium insolens 
contumelies animus : inermem populum gladiis invasere : 
caesus inter alios pater militis, cum filium comitaretur ; 
deinde agnitus : et, vulgata caede, temperatum ab innoxiis. 
In urbe tarn en trepidatum. praecurrentibus passim militibus. 
Forum maxime petebant, cupidine visendi locum, in quo 
Galba jacuisset. Nee minus sgevum spectaculum erant 

j Adgrediuntur, i.e. Vespasian and the other leaders of his party. 
k Congestu copiarum. By the immense quantity of supplies. 



#• c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. SECCNDUS. 95 

ipsi, tergis ferarum et ingentibus telis horrentes, cum tur- 
bam populi per inscitiam (/) parum vitarent, aut, ubilubrico 
viae vel occursu alicujus procidissent, ad jurgium, mox ad 
manus et ferrum transirent. Quin et Tribuni Praefectique 
cum terrore et armatorum catervis volitabant. 

LXXXIX. Ipse Vitellius, a ponte Milvio, insigni equo, 
paludatus accinctusque, Senatum et Fopulura ante se agens, 
quo minus, ut cap tarn, urbem ingrederetur, amicorum con- 
^iliodeterritus, sumpta prastexta et composito agmine, in- 
cessit. Quatuor legionum aquilae per frontem, totidemque 
circa e legionibus aliis vexilia, mox duodecim alarum signa, 
et post peditum ordines, eques : dein quatuor et triginta 
cohortes, ut nomina gentium, aut species armorum forent, 
discretae. Ante aquilam (m) Praefecti castrorum Tribuni- 
que et primi Centurionum, Candida veste : ceteri juxta 
suam quisque centuriam, armis donisque fulgentes. Et 
militum phalerae torquesque splendebant : decora facies, 
et non Vitellio Principe dignus exercitus. Sic Capitolium 
kigressus, atque ibi matrem complexus, Augustas nomine 
honoravit. 

XC. Postera die, tamquam apud alterius civitatis Sena- 
tum Populumque, magnificam orationem de semetipso 
prompsit, industriam temperantiamque suam laudibus ad- 
tollens : consciis flagitiorum ipsis, qui aderant, omnique 
Italia, per quam somno et luxu pudendus incesserat. Vul- 
gus iamen, vacuum curis, et sine falsi verique discrimine 
solitas adulationes edoctum, clamore et vocibus adstrepe- 
bat : abnuentique nomen ' Augusti/ expressere, ut adsume- 
ret : tam frustra, quam recusaverat. (n) 

XCI. Apud civitatem, cuncta interpretantem, funesti 
ominis loco acceptum est, quod, maximum Pontificatum 
adeptus, Vitellius de caeremoniis publicis quintodecimo 
Kalendas Augusti edixisset, antiquitus infausto die Creme- 
rensi Alliensique cladibus, (o) adeo omnis humani divini- 



l Per inscitiam . Not having been accustomed to the crowds of a 
city. 

m Ante aquilam. Each one before his own eagle or standard. 

n Tam frustra, quam recusaverat. With as little advantage as if 
he had refused it. 

o The defeat at Cremera, a river in Tuscany, (now La Varcd) was 
A. U. C. 277. At Allia (now Torrente di Oatino) the Roman army 
was put to the sword by the Gauls under Brennus, A.U.C. 364. The 
slaughter was so great that the day on which it happened {Dies AlUtn* 



dd C. CORN. TACITI. a. «. c. 822. 

que juris expers, pari libertorum amicorumque socordia-, 
yelut inter temuleritos agebat. Sed comitia Consulum cum 
candidatis civiliter celebrans, omnem infimae plebis rumo- 
rein> in theatro ut spectator, in circo ut fautor, adfectavit : 
qu as, grata sane et popularia, si a virtutibus proiicisceren- 
tur, inemoria vitas prioris, (p) indecora et vilia accipieban- 
tur. Ventitabat in Senatum ; etiam cum parvis de rebus 
Patres consulerentua. Ac forte Priscus Helvidius, Praetor 
designatus, contra studium ejus consuerat. Commotus 
primo Vitellius, non tamen ultra, quam 6 Tribunos plebis 

* in auxilium spretse potestatis' advocavit. Mox, mitigan- 
tibus amicis, qui altiorem iracundiam ejus verebantur, ' ni- 
■ hil novi accidisse,' respondit, ' quod duo Senatores in Re- 
•' publica dissentirent : solitum se etiam Thraseas (9) con- 

* tradicere.' Inrisere plerique inpudentiam aemulationis : 
aliis id ipsum placebat, quod neminem ex praepotentibus ? 
*ed Thraseam, ad exemplar verse gloriae legisset. 

XCII. Praeposuerat PraBtorianis P. Sabinum, a Praefec- 
tura cohortis ; Julium Priscum, turn Centurionem : Priscus 
Valentis, Sabinus Caecinae gratia pollebant. Inter discor- 
des Vitellio nihil auctoritatis : munia Imperii Caecina ac 
Valens obibant : olim anxii odiis, quae, bello et'castris male 
dissimulata, pravitas amicorum, et fecunda gignendis inimici- 
tiis civitas auxerat, dum ambitu, comitatu, et inmensis sa- 
lutantium agminibus contendunt comparanturque ; variis in 
hunc aut ilium Vitellii inclinationibus. Nee unquam satis 
fida potentia, ubi nimia est. Simul ipsum Vitellium, subi- 
tis offensis aut intempestivis blanditiis mutabilem, contem- 
nebant metuebantque. Nee eo segnius invaserant domos, 
hortos, opesque Imperii : cum flebilis et egens nobilium 
turba, quos ipsos liberosque patrias Galba reddiderat, nulla 
Principis misericordia juvarentur. Gratum primoribus 
civitatis, etiam plebes adprobavit, quod reversis ab exilio 
jura libertorum (r) concessisset : quamquam id omni modo 

Hs) was marked as unlucky in the calendar, and according to Cicero, 
r hought more fatal than that on which Rome was taken. 

p Vitellius, in the time of Nero, associated with pantomime actors, 
charioteers and wrestlers. Suetonius, in Vitel. s. 4 and 12. 

q Thraseas was a philosopher of Patavium, in the age of Nero, fa- 
mous for his independence and generous sentiments. See Annals xvi. 21 . 

r Jura libertorum. Patrons retained various rights over their 
freedmen. If the patron were reduced to poverty, the freedman was 
bound to support him, according to his ability. If the freedman died 
intestate, without heirs, the patron succeeded to his effects. 



j. c. 69, HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDUS. 97 

servilia ingenia conrampebant, abditis pecuniis per occultos 
"aut ambitiosos (s) sinus : et quidam in domum Caesaris 
transgressi, atque ipsis dominis potentiores. 

XCIII. Sed miles, plenis castris et, redundante multi- 
tudine, in porticibus aut delubris et urbe tota vagus, non 
principia noscere, non servare vigilias, neque labore firma- 
ri : per inlecebras urbis et inhonesta dictu, corpus otio, 
animum libidinibus inminuebant. Posfcremo, ne salutis 
quidem cura, infamibus vaticani locis magna pars tetendit : 
unde crebrae in vulgus mortes. (t) Et, adjacente Tiberi. 
Germanorum Gallorumque obnoxia morbis corpora flumi* 
nis aviditas et aestus inpatientia labefecit. Insuper confu* 
sus, pravitate vel ambitu, ordo militias. Sedecim Prseto- 
riae, quatuor urbanse cohortes scribebantur, quis singula 
millia inessent. (u) Plus in eo delectu Valens audebatj 
tamquam ipsum Caecinam periculo exemisset : sane adven- 
tu ejus partes eonvaluerant, et sinistrum lenti itineris ru- 
morem prospero proelio verterat: omnisque inferioris 
Germanise miles Valentem adsectabatur : unde primum 
creditor Caecinae fides fluitasse. 

XCIV. Ceterum non ita ducibus indulsit Vitellius, ut 
non plus militi liceret : sibi quisque militiam sumpsere, 
quamvis indignus, si ita maluerat, urbanae militiae adscribe- 
batur: rursus bonis, remanere inter legionarios aut alares 
volentibus, permissum ; nee deerant qui vellent, fessi 
morbis et intemperiem caeli incusantes. Robora tamen le- 
gionibus alisque subtracta : convulsum castrorum decus, 
viginti millibus, e toto exercitu, permixtis magis quam elec- 
lis. Concionante Vitellio, postulantur c ad supplicium 
1 Asiaticus et Flavius et Rufinus, duces Galliarum, quod 
; pro Vindice bellassent. 5 Nee coercebat ejusmodi voces 
Vitellius : super insitam inerti animo ignaviam, conscius. 
sibi instare donativum et deesse pecuniam, omnia alia mi- 
liti largiebatur. Liberti principum, 8 conferre pro nume- 
1 ro mancipiorum,' uttributum, jussi. Ipse, sola perdendl 
cura. stabula aurigis exstruere : circum gladiatorum fera* 

s. Abditis pecuniis, etc. Their wealth being concealed in obscure 
places, or deposited in the custody of the great. 

i The lands around the Vatican were covered with stagnant water, 
and the air of course was unwholesome. 

u Before the augmentation, the pratorian cohorts, (i. c. those that 
were encamped near Rome) were only nine ; the city-guard consist- 
ed of three, called Cohortes Urbana, Ann. iv. s, 5. 

10 * 



98 C. CORN. TACITL a.\j. c. 82! 

rumque spectaculis opplere : tamquam in summa abundan- 
tia, pecuniae inludere. 

XCV. Quin et natalem Vitellii diem Caecina ac Valens, 
editis tola urbe vicatim gladiatoribus celebravere : ingenti 
paratu et ante ilium diem insolito. Laetum foedissimo cui- 
que, apud bonos invidiam fait, quod exstructis in campo 
Martio aris, inferias Neroni fecisset : causae publice victi- 
mse cremataeque*: facem Augustales subdidere : quod sa- 
cerdotium, ut Romulus Tatio Regi* ita Caesar Tiberius Ju- 
lian genti sacravit. Nondum quartus a victoria mensis, et 
libertus Vitelli, Asiaticus, Polycletos, Patrobios et Vetera 
odiorum nomina aequebat. (v) Nemo in ilia aula probitate 
aut industria certavit : unum ad potentiam iter, prodigis 
epulis et sumptu ganeaque satiare inexplebiles Vitellii li- 
bidines. Ipse abunde ratus, si praesentibus frueretur, nee 
in longius consultant, novies millies sestertium, paucissi* 
mis mensibus, intervertisse creditur. Magna et misera 
civitas, eodem anno Othonem Vitelliumque passa, inter 
Vinios, Fabios, Icelos, Asiaticos, varia et pudenda sorte 
agebat ; donee successere Mucianus et Marcellus (w), et 
magis alii homines, quam alii mores. 

XCVI. Prima Vitellio ' tertiae legionis defectio 5 nuncia- 
tur, missis ab Aponio Saturnino epistolis, antequam is quo- 
que Vespasiani partibus adgregaretur* Sed neque Aponius 
cuncta, ut trepidans re subita, perscripserat, et amici adu- 
lantes mollius interpretabantur : i unius legionis earn sedi- 
* tionem, ceteris exercitibus constare fidem.' In hunc mo- 
durn etiam Vitellius apud milites disseruit.^ Praetorianos 
nuper exauctoratos insectatus, ' aquibus falsos rumores dis- 
« pergi, nee ullum civilis belli metum,' adseverabat, sup- 
presso Vespasiani nomine, et vagis per urbem militibus ? 
qui sermones populi coercerent : id praecipuum alimentum 
famae erat. 

XCVII. Auxilia tamen e Germania Britanniaque et His-* 
paniis excivit, segniter, et necessitatem dissimulans. Pe- 
rinde Legati provinciseque cunctabantur : Hordeonms 



v Vetera odiorum nomina. The former freedmen whose names 
were execrated. 

w Mucianus was the .active partisan of Vespasian (this book, s. 76.). 
Eprius Marcellus, a man who raised himself by his flagitious deeds, 
(Ann. xvi. s. 12,) was the favourite minister linger Yespasian. Se^ 
♦he Dialogue concerning Oratory, s. 8. 



:. c. 69- HISTOR. LIB. SECUNDtFS. 99 

Flaccus, (x) suspectis jam Batavis, anxius proprio belle, 
Vettius Bolanus, nutiquam satis quieta Britannia : et uter- 
que ambigui : neque ex Hispaniis properabatur, nullo turn 
ibi Consulari : trium legionum Legati, pares jure et, pros- 
peris Vitellii rebus, certaturi ad obsequium, adversam ejus 
fortunam ex aequo detrectabant. In Africa legio cohortea- 
que, delectae a Clodio Macro, mox a Galba dimissae, rur- 
sus jussu Vitellii militiam cepere : simul cetera juventus 
dabat inpigre nomina : quippe integrum illic ac favorabilem 
Proconsulatum Vitellius, famosum invisumque, Vespasia- 
nusegerat: perinde socii de Imperio utriusque conjecta,- 
bant : sed experimentum contra fuit. 

XCVIII. Ac primo Valerius Festus, Legatus, studia pro- 
Tincialium cum fide juvit : mox nutabat, palam epistolie 
edictisque Vitellium, occultis nuntiis Vespasianum, fovens, 
et haac illave defensurus, prout invaluissent. Deprehensi 
cum litteris edictisque Vespasiani, per Rhaetiam etGallias, 
militum et Centurionum quidam, ad Vitellium missi, necan- 
tur : plures fefellere, fide amicorum, aut suomet astu oc- 
cultati. Ita Vitellii paratus noscebantur, Vespasiani con- 
siliorum pleraque ignota : primum socordia Vitellii : dein- 
de Pannonicae Alpes, praesidiis insessae, nuntios retinebant : 
mare quoque Etesiarum flatu (,y) in Orientem navigantibus 
secundum, inde adversum erat. 

XCIX. Tandem, inruptione hostium, atrocibus undique 
nuntiis exterritus, Caecinam et Valentem expedire ad bel- 
lum jubet: praemissus Caecina : Valentem, ^ gravi corpo- 
ris morbo turn primum adsurgentem, infirmitas tardabat, 
Longe alia proficiscentis ex urbe Garmanici exercitus spe- 
cies : non vigor corporibus, non ardor animis : lentum et 
rarum agmen, fluxa arma, segnesequi : inpatiens solis, pul~ 
veris, tempestatum : quantumque hebes ad sustinendum 
laborem miles, tanto ad discordias promptior. Accedebat 
hue Caecinae ambitio vetus, torpor recens, nimia fortune 
indulgentia soluti in luxum t seu perfidiam meditantis in- 
fringere exercitus virtutem, inter artes erat. Credidere 
plerique, FlaviiSabini consiliis concussam Caecinae mentem, 
ministro sermonum Rubrio Gallo, ' rata apud Vespasianum 



x Hordeonius Flaccus was appointed by Galba to the command on 
the Upper Rhine, in the room of Verginius Rufus. 

y Etesice, were gentle northern winds, very common in the months 
of spring and autumn, Lucretius 5, t. 741- 



100 C. CORN. TAG. HIST. LIB. SECUNDUS. 

€ fore pacta transitionis : 5 simul odiorum invidiaeque erga 
Fabium Valentem admonebatur, * ut inpar apud Vitellium, 

* gratiarn viresque apud novum Principem pararet.' 

C. Caecina complexu Vitellii multo cumhonore digressus> 
partem equitum ad occupandam Cremonam praemisit : mox 
vexilla quartae, decimal et sextaedecimae (z) legionum ; 
dein quinta et duoetvicesima secutae : postremo agmine 
unaetvicesima Rapax et prima Italica incessere, cum vex- 
illariis trium Britannicarum legionum et electis auxiliis. 
Profecto Caecina, scripsit Fabius Valens exercitui, quern 
ipse ductaverat, ' ut in itinere opperiretur ; sic sibi cum 
4 Ca&cina convenisse :' qui praesens, eoque validior, ' in- 
' mutatum id consilium' finxit, ' ut ingruenti bello tota mole 
' occurreretur. Ita accelerare' legiones ' Cremonam/ 
pars ' Hostiliam (a) petere' jussae : ipse Ravenam divertit, , 
praetexto classem adloquendi : mox Patavii secretum com- 
ponendae proditionis quaesitum. Namque Lucilius Bassus, 
post praefecturam alae, Ravennati simul ac Misenensi classic 
bus a Vitellio praepositus, quod non statim Praefecturam 
Praetorii adeptus foret, iniquam iracundiam flagitiosa perfi- 
dia ulciscebatur, nee sciri potest, traxeritne Caecinam, an 
(quod evenit inter males, ut et similes sunt) eadem illos 
pravitas inpulerit. 

CI. Scriptores temporum, qui, potiente rerum Flavia 
domo, monumenta belli huju^ce composuerunt, i curam 

* pacis et amorem Reipublicae' conruptas in adulationem 
r caussas,' tradidere. Nobis, super insitam levitatem, et, 
prodito Galba, vilem mox fidem, aemulatione etiam invidia- 
que, ne ab aliis apud Vitellium anteiretur, pervertisse ip- 
sum videtur. Caecina, legiones adsecutus, Centurionum 
militumque animos, obstinatos pro Vitellio, variis artibus 
subruebat : Basso eadem molienti minor difficultas erat, lu- 
brica ad mutandam fidem classe, ob memoriam recentis pro 
Othone militiae. 

s Brotier thinks there is a mistake in the text. The fourteenth le- 
gion, he observes, stood firm for Otho, and for that reason were sent 
into Britain. But perhaps the veterans, who had served their time, 
and were still retained in service, were left in Italy. 

a Hostilia was a village on the Po, now Ostiglia, in the neighbour- 
hood of Cremona. 



THE 



HISTORY 

or 

TACITUS 

BOOK HI. 



CONTENTS. 
BOOK ill. 

I. The leaders of Vespasian's army deliberate about the plan .of their 
operations. Antonius is for expedition. The army under his con- 
duct arrives in Italy. Arrius Varus accompanies Antonius as se- 
cond in command. VI. They take possession of Aquileia and other 
cities. VIII. Antonius fixes the seat of war at Verona. Vespasian 
ignorant of the rapid progress in Italy. By his letters he had advis- 
ed caution and delay. Mucianus wrote to the same effect. IX. Let- 
ters pass between Caecina and Vespasian's generals. X. A violent 
sedition among Vespasian's troops appeased by Antonius. XII. Lu- 
cilius Bassus and Caecina conspire to betray Vitellius. The fleet 
at Ravenna revolts to Vespasian. Lucius Bassus i3 seized and sent 
to Mennius Rufinus ; he is loaded with fetters, but released by the 
authority of Hormus, one of Vespasian 5 * freedmen. XIII. Caecina 
proposes a general revolt of the army. By his advice several swear 
fidelity to Vespasian. The soldiers discontented with the proceed- 
ing. They put Caecina in irons. XV. Antonius arrives at Bedria- 
cum. A battle with the Vitellians. Vespasian's army gains the 
victory ; the soldiers eager to push forward to Cremona. XX. An- 
tonius harrangues the men, and restrains their impetuosity. X£! 



102 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

The Vitellians, reinforced by six legions, return to the charge. An- 
tonius gives them a warm reception. A battle is fought with great 
obstinacy. The Vitellians are put to the rout. XXV. A son kills 
his father in battle, and weeps over him as soon as he perceives 
what he has done. XXVI. Cremona besieged. The Vitellian of- 
ficers inclined to a surrender : they release Caecina, wishing him to 
make terms for them with the conqueror. Csecina rejects their 
proposal. Cremona submits to Antonius. His soldiers, notwith- 
standing, rush into the town, and commit dreadful outrages. Cre- 
mona burnt to the ground. XXXVI. Vitellius immersed in luxu- 
ry. He convenes the Senate. Caecina, in his absence, condemned 
by the Fathers. Rosius Regulus enters on the consulship for one 
day. XXXVIII. The murder of Junius Blaesus, procured by Lu- 
cius Vitellius, the emperor's brother. The character of Blaesus. 
XL. Fabius Valens, by his delay and luxury, ruins the cause of 
Vitellius. Being informed of the defeat at Cremona, he flies with 
a few followers, puts to sea and is taken prisoner. XLIV. Spain, 
Gaul, and the legions in Britain declare for Vespasian. Commo- 
tions among the natives of Britain excited by Venusus, the divorced 
husband of Cartismandua, queen of the Brigantes. XL VI. An in- 
surrection among the German nations, and also in Dacia : the last 
quelled by Mucianus. XL VII. A servile war stirred up in Pontus 
by a bold adventurer of the name of Amicetus ; he is taken and put 
to death. XL VIII. Vespasian takes possession of Alexandria in 
Egypt, with a view to reduce Rome by famine. ^LIX. Antonius 
leaves part of his army at Verona, and marches forward in quest of 
the Vitellians. LI. A soldier demands a reward for having killed 
his brother in battle ; reflections on that unnatural conduct. LII. 
Mucianus, in his letters to Vespasian, charges Antonius with too 
much precipitation. LIII. Antonius complains against Mucianus 
in a style of pride and resentment. The two generals become in- 
veterate enemies. LIV. Vitellius endeavours to conceal the defeat 
at Cremona from the people at Rome. Remarkable firmness of Ju- 
lius Agrestis, a centurion. LV. Vitellius orders the passes over 
the Apennine to be secured, and goes in person to the camp. LVI. 
Portents and prodigier. Vitellius himself the greatest prodigy. He 
returns to Rome. LVII. Revolt of the fleet at Misenum. The 
people of Puteoli declare for Vespasian. Capua firm for Vitellius. 
Claudius Julianus goes over to Vespasian, and makes himself mas- 
ter of Terracina. LVIII. Lucius Vitellius, the emperor's brother, 
sent to conduct the war in Campania. An army raised at Rome, 
but the senators and Roman knights relinquish the undertaking. 
LXIX. Vespasian's forces begin their march over the Apennine. 
Petileus Cerealis, disguised like a peasant, joins the army, and is 
received as a general officer. LX. The soldiers eager for action ; 
Antonius makes a harrangue, and restrains their violence. LXI. A 
spirit of. defection prevails among the Vitellians. Priscus and Al- 
phenus leave the camp, and return to Vitellius. LXIL Fabius 
Valens put to death at Urbinum : his character. LXIII. The Vi- 
tellian forces at Narnia lay down their arms. Proposals from the 
enemy to Vi + ellius ; he inclines to accept the offer, and talks of a 
pleasant retreat, LXIV, The leading men at Rome endeavour to 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 103 

animate Flavius Sabinus, Vespasian's brother : he pleads his ad- 
vanced age, and enters into a treaty with Vitellius. LXV. The 
treaty concluded in the temple of Apoilo. LXVI. The friends of 
Vitellius endeavour to inspire him with courage, but in vain. He 
comes forth from the palace, and makes a voluntary abdication. 
He is forced by the soldiers and the populace to return to the pa- 
lace. LXIX. Sabinus takes upon himself the government of Rome. 
The German soldiers declare against him. A skirmish ensues : the 
Vitellians have the advantage. Sabinus shuts himself up in the 
Capitol. LXXI. The Capital besieged, and burnt to the ground. 
Reflections on that disaster. LXXIII. Sabinus and Quinctius At- 
ticus, the consul, taken prisoners. LXXIV. Domitian concealed 
and saved by the address of a freedman. Sabinus dragged into the 
presence of Vitellius, and by him well received, but murdered by 
the soldiers. His body thrown into the common charnel of male- 
factors. LXXV. The character of Sabinus. Quinctius Atticus, 
the consul, takes upon himself the guilt of having set fire to the Ca- 
pitol, and is saved by Vitellius. LXXVI. Terracina taken by Lu- 
cius Vitellius ; Claudius Julianus put to death. LXXVIII. Vespa- 
sian's forces halt for several days amidst the Apennine mountains ; 
but, roused at length by the destruction of the capitol, they pursue 
their march towards Rome. LXXIX. The Vitellians gain the advan- 
tage over Petilius Cerealis in a battle at a small distance from Rome. 
LXXX. Ambassadors sent to treat with Antonius. The soldiers 
attack the ambassadors ; Arunelus Rusticus wounded. A proces- 
sion of the vestal virgins. They are dismissed with respect, and 
Vitellius receives for answer, that the firing of the capitol has pre- 
cluded all terms of accommodation. LXXXI. Vespasian's forces 
advance in three divisions to the city. Various engagements on the 
outside of the walls. The Vitellians routed. They rally in the 
city, and again face, the enemy. LXXXIII. A dreadful slaughter en- 
sues ; Rome a scene of murder and debauchery. The people be- 
hold the combatants, and applaud as at a public spectacle of gla- 
diators. LXXXIV. The praetorian camp besieged and taken by 
the soldiers of Vespasian. LXXXV. Vitellius detected in his lurk- 
ing-place, and after various insults from the populace, put to death. 
LXXXVI. The character of Vitellius. Domitian saluted by the 
name of Caesar. 

These transactions passed in a few months. 
Year of Rome. Of Christ. Consuls. 

822 69 Fabius Valens, 



,1 



Alienus Caacina, 
Rosius Regulus, ) 
Caecilius Simplex. ) 
Quinctius Atticus. 



W9$t 



JMeliore fato fideque partium Flavianarum duces consilia 
belli tractabant. Petovionem in hiberna tertiaedecimae le- 
gionis convenerant : illic agitavere, ' placeretne obstrui 



104 C. CORN. TAC1TI. k<V. c. 822. 

6 Pannoniae Alpes, donee a tergo vires universae consurge- 

* rent ; an ire cominus et certare pro Italia constantius fo- 
1 ret.' Quibus opperiri auxilia et trahere bellum videba- 
tur, * Germanicarum legionum vim famamque' extollebant, 
1 et advenisse, nox cum Vitellio Britannici exercitus robo- 
c ra : ipsis nee numerum parem pulsarum nuper legionum ; 
6 et, quamquam atrociter loquerentur, minorem esse apud 
i victos animum. Sed,Mnsessis interim Alpibus, venturum 
4 cum copiis Orientis Muckinum. Superesse Vespasiano 

* mare, classes, studia provinciarum, per quas velut alteri- 
' us belli molem cieret. Ita salubri mora novas vires ad- 
4 fore, et praesentibus nihil periturum,' 

II. Ad ea Antonius Primus (is acerrimus belli concita- 
tor) * festinationem ipsis utilem, Vitellio exitiosam,' disse- 
ruit : ' plus socordiaa, quam fiducise, accessisse victoribus : 

* neque enim in procinctu et castris habitos : per omnia 
4 Italian municipia desides, tantum hospitibus metuendos, 
4 quanto ferocius ante se egerint, tanto cupidius insolitas 

* voluptates hausisse. Circo quoque ac theatris et amce- 
1 nitate urbis emollitos, aut valetudinibus fessos. Sed, ad- 

* dito spatio, rediturum et his robur meditatione belli : nee 
; procul Germaniam, unde vires : Britanniam freto dirimi : 
c juxta Gallias Hispaniasque ; utrimque viros, equos, tri- 

* buta : ipsamque Italiam et opes urbis : ac, si inferrearma 

* ultro velint, duas classes, vacuumque Illyricum mare. 
' Quid turn claustra montium profutura? quid tractum in 

' aestatem aliam bellum ? unde interim pecuniam et com- . 
i meatas ? Quin potius eo ipso uterentur, quod Pannoni- 

* cae legiones, deceptae magis, quam victae. resurgere in ul- 
i tionem properent : Moesici exercitus integras vires adtu- 
; lerint. Si numerus militum (a) potius, quam legionum, 
c putetur, plus hinc roboris, nihil libidinum : et profuisse 
1 discipline ipsum pudorem. Equites vero ne turn quidem 
4 victos ; sed, quamquam rebus adversis, disjectam Vitellii 
' aciem. Duae tunc Pannonica3 ac Moesicae ala3 perrupere 
' hostem : nunc sedecim alarum conjuncta signa pulsu soni- 
6 tuque et nube ipsa operient ac superfundunt oblitos proe- 
6 liorum equites equosque. Nisi quis retinet, idem suasor 
c auctorque consilii ero. Vos, quibus fortuna in integro 

a Si numerus militum, etc. The idea is, that the soldiers of Ves- 
pasian were more numerous than those of Vitellius. For although 
Vitellius had the greater number of legions, still the legions had not 
their full qusta of troops- 



r. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERT1US. lol 

* est, (b) legiones continete : mihi expeditae cohortes suf- 
i ficient. Jam reseratam Italian), inpulsas Vitellii res au 
4 dietis : juvabit sequi et vestigiis vincentis insistere.' 

III. Haec atque talia, flagrans oculis, truci voce, quo 
latius audiretur, (etenim se Centuriones et quidam militum 
consilio miscuerant) ita effudit, ut cautos quoque ac providos 
permoveret, vulgus et ceteri, ' unum virum Ducemque,' 
spreta * aliorum segnitia,' laudibus ferrent. Hanc sui fa- 
mam ea statim concione commoverat, qua, recitatis Vespa- 
siani epistolis, non, ut plerique, (c) incerta disseruit, hue 
illuc tracturus interpretationem, prout conduxisset ; aperte 
descendisse in caussam videbatur : eoque gratior militibu? 
erat, culpa? vel gloria? socius. 

IV. Proxima Cornelii Fusci Procuratoris auctoritas : is 
quoque, inclementer in Vitellium invehi solitus, nihil spei 
sibi inter adversa reliquerat. Titus Ampius Flavianus, 
natura ac senecta cunctatior, suspiciones militum inritabat, 
tamquam adfinitatis cum Vitellio meminisset : (d) idemque, 
quod, coeptante legionum motu, profugus, dein sponte re- 
meaverat, perfidiae locum quassisse credebatur. Nam Fla- 
vianum, omissa Pannonia, ingressum Italiam, et discrimini 
exemptum, rerum novarum cupido Legati nomen resumere, 
et misceri civilibus armis, inpulerat : suadente Cornelio 
Fusco ; non, quia industria Flaviani egebat, sed ut Consu- 
lare nomen surgentibus cum maxime partibus honesta spe- 
cie praetenderetur. 

V. Ceterum, ut transmittere in Italiam inpune et usui 
foret, scriptum Aponio Saturnino, (e) ' cum exercito Mossi- 
co celeraret.' Ac, ne inermes provinciae barbaris nationi- 
bus exponerentur, Principes Sarmatarum Jazygum, (/) 
penes quos civitatis regimen, in commilitium adsciti : ' ple- 
4 bem' quoque, 4 et vim equitum,' qua sola valent, offere- 
bant : remissum id munus, ne inter discordias externa mo- 
lirentur, aut, majore ex diverso mercede, jus fasque ex- 

b Quibus for tuna in integro est. Who can still deliberate — who 
have not banished the hope of pardon in case Vitellius is victor. 

c Js~on ut plerique, etc. He did not, like most men, use equivocal 
terms, which might afterwards receive the construction that suited the 
views of the speaker. 

d Ampius Flavianus was related to Vitellius ; See this book, s-. 10. 

e Aponius Saturninus was governor of Moesia. Hist. ii. s. 95, 96. 

/ Jazyges, a people of Sarmatia Europsea, situate on the weft side 
of the Palus Maeotis, near the territory of Maroboduus, the German 
king. 

11 



106 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822, 

uerent. Trahuntur in partes Sido atque Italicus, Reges 
Suevorum, qnis vetus obsequium erga Romanos, et gens 
fidei commissaB patientior: posita in latus auxilia, infesta 
Raetia, cui Portius Septiminus Procurator erat, incorruptse 
erga Vitellium fidei. Igitur Sextiiius Felix, cum ala Auria- 
na (g) et octo cohortibus ac Noricorum juventute, ad 
occupandam ripam iEni fluminis, (h) quod Pthetos Noricos- 
que interfluit, missus : nee, his aut illis proelium tentanti- 
bus, fortuna partium alibi transacta. 

VI. Antonio, vexillarios e cohortibus et partem equi- 
tum adinvadenclam Italiam rapienti, comes fuit Arrius Va- 
rus, strenuus bello : quam gloriam et dux Corbulo (i) et 
prospers in Armenia res addiderant. Idem, ' secretis 
6 apud Neronem rumoribus,' ferebatur, ? Corbulonis vir- 
t tutes criminatus :' unde, infami gratia primum pilum adep- 
to, laeta ad praesens male parta, mox in perniciem vertere. 
Sed Primus ac Varus, occupantes Aquileias proxima quae- 
que, et Opitergii et Altini laetis animis accipiuntur : relic- 
turn Altini presidium adversus elassem Ravennatem, non- 
dum defectione ejus audita : inde Patavium et Ateste parti- 
bus adjunxere : (j) illic cognitum, ' tres Vitellianas cohor- 
' tes et alam, cui Sebonianae nomen, ad Forum Allieni, 
c ponte juncto, consedisse :' placuit occasio invadendi in- 
curiosos : nam id quoque nuntiabatur : luce prima inermos 
plerosque oppressere. Prasdictum, 4 ut, paucis interfectis, 
c ceteros pavore ad mutandam fidem cogerent ■■' et fuere, 
qui se statim dederent : plures abrupto ponte, instanti hosti 
viam abstulerunf . 

VII. Vulgata victoria, post principia belli secundum 
Flavianos, duae legiones, septima Galbiana^ tertia decima 
Gemina ? cum Vedio Aquila, Legato, Patavium alacres 
veniunt : ibi pauci dies ad requiem sumpti : et Minucius 
Justus, Praefsetus castrorum, legionis septimae, quia adduc- 
tius, quam civili bello, imperitabat, subtractus militum irae, 
ad Vespasianum missus est. Desiderata diu res, interpre- 

g Ala Auriana, A squadron of horse, most probably from the 
eity of Auria, in Spain. 

h iEnus, a river rising in the country of the Grisons, and running 
thence into the Danube. 

i For Corbulo's conduct in Armenia, see Ann. 13. 

/ Opitergium, now Oderzo, Altinum, on the Adriatic, now called 
Altino, Patavium, now called Padua, and Ateste situate a little south 
ef Patavium were all in the Venetian territory. 



j. c. G9. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 107 

tatione glorias, in majus accipitur, postquam * Galbae ima- 
; gines, discordia temporum subversas, in omnibus munici- 
; piis recoli' jussit Antonius : decorum pro caussa ratus, 
si placere Galbae Principatus et partes revirescere crede- 
rentur. 

VIII. Quaesitum inde, 6 quae sedes bello legeretur ? 
c Verona potior' visa, ' patentibus circum campis ad pug- 
4 nam equestrem,' qua praevalebant : simul, : coloniam 
1 copiis validam auferre Vitellio, in rem famamque' videba- 
tur. Possessa ipso transitu Vicetia : quod per se parum 
(etenim modicae municipio vires) magni momenti locum ob- 
tinuit, reputantibus, ' illic Ceecinam genitum, et patriam 

* hostium Duci ereptam.' Tn Veronensibus pretium fuit : 
exemplo opibusque partes juvere. Et interjectus exerci- 
tus per Raetiam Juliasque Alpes ; ac, ne pervium ilia Ger- 
manicis exercitibus foret, obsepserat : quae ignara Vespa- 
siano, aut vetita : quippe J Aquileiae sisti bellum exspec- 

* tarique Mucianum' jubebat, adjiciebatque imperio consi- 
lium, i quando iEgyptus, claustra annonae, vectigalia (k) 

* opulentissimarumprovinciarum obtinerentur, posse Vitel- 
1 lii exercitum, egestate stipendii frumentique ad deditionem 
6 subigi.' Eadem Mucianus crebris epistolis menebat, 
; incruentam et sine luctu victoriam,' et alia hujuscemodi 
praetexendo ; sed gloriae avidus atque omne belli decus sibi 
retinens. Ceterum ex distantibus terrarum spatiis, consilia 
post res adferebantur. 

IX. Igitur repentino incursu Antonius stationes hostium 
inrumpit, tentatisque Levi proelio animis, ex asquo disces- 
sum, Mox Caecina inter Hostiliam, vicum Veronensium 
et paludes Tartari fluminis, castra permuniit ; tutus loco, 
cum terga flumine, latera objectu paludis tegerentur : quod 
si adfuisset fides, aut opprimi universis Vitellianorum viri- 
bus duaB legiones, nondum conjuncto Mcesico exercitu, po- 
tuere, aut retro actae, deserta Italia, turpem lugam consci- 
vissent. Sed Caecina, per varias moras, prima hostibus 
prodidit tempora belli, dum. quos armis pellere promptum 
erat, epistolis increpat, donee per nuntios pacta perfidi.se. 
nrmaret. Interim Aponius Saturnius cum legione septima 

k Egypt was the Roman granary of corn; and Pliny the Younger 
says, that the people of that country were proud to find that the con- 
querors of the world depended on them for their daily maintenance. 
Pliny's Panegyric, s. 31. 



108 



C. CORN. TACITI. 



A. M. c. 822. 



Claudiana advenit : legioni Tribunus Vipstanius Messala 
praeerat, Claris majoribus, egregius ipse, et qui solus ad id 
bellum artes bonas adtulisset. Has ad copias, nequaquam 
Vitellianis pares (quippe tres adhuc legiones erant) misit 
epistojas Caecina, ' temeritatem victa arma tractantium' in- 
cusans : siraul ' virtus Germanici exercitus' laudibus adtolle- 
batur ; Vitellii modica et vulgari mentione, nulla in Vespasia- 
num contumelia : nihil prorsus, quod aut conrumperet hos- 
tem, aut terreret. Flavianarum partium Duces, omissa prio- 
ns fortunae defensione, pro Vespasianomagnifice, pro caussa 
fidenter, de exercitu securi, in Vitellium ut inimici,praesump- 
sere : (?) facta Tribunis Centurionibusque \ retinendi, quae 
Vitellius indulsisset, 5 spe : atque ipsum Caecinam non ob- 
scure ad transitionem hortabantur. Recitatae pro concione 
epistolae (m) addidere fiduciam, quod submisse Caecina, ve- 
lut offendere Vespasianum timens, ipsorum Duces con- 
temptim, tamquam insultantes Vitellio, scripsissent. 

X. Adventu deinde duarum legionum, e quibus tertium 
Dillius Aponianus, octavam Numisius Lupus ducebant, os- 
tentare vires, et militari valk) Veronam circumdare placuit. 
Forte Galbianae legioni in adversa fronte valli opus cesse- 
rat, et visi procul sociorum equites, vanam formidinem, ut 
hostes, fecere. Rapiuntur arma et ut proditionis ira mili- 
tum in T. Ampium Flavianum incubuit, («) nullo criminis 
argumento, sed jam pridem invisus turbine quodani ad exi- 
tium poscebatur : ' propinquum Vitellii, proditorem Otho- 
< nis, interceptorem donativi' clamitabant. Nee defensioni 
locus, quamquam supplices manus tenderet, humi plerum- 
que stratus, lacera veste, pectus atque ora singultu quati- 
ens : id ipsum apud infensos incitamentum erat, tamquam 
nimius pavor conscientiam argueret. Obturbabatur mili- 
tum vocibus Aponius, (o) cum loqui coeptaret : fremitu et 
clamore ceteros adspernantur : uni Antonio apertse militum 
aures : namque et facundia aderat, mulcendique vulgum 
artes et auctoritas. Ubi crudescere seditio, et a conviciis 



I Pmsumpsere. They dared to write boldly against Vitellius be- 
fore the victory. 

m Epislola*, i. e. the letters of Caecina to the leaders of Vespa- 
sian and theirs to him. 

n Ut proditionis, etc. The anger of the soldiery was turned to- 
wards Flavianus as the author of the plot. 

M nonius. Saturninus, concerning whom, see this book, s. ° 



. r. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 109 

et probris ad tela et maims transibant, ' injici catenas' Fla- 
viano jubet. Sensit ludibrium miles, disjectisque, qui 
tribunal tuebantur, extrema vis parabatur. Opposuit sinum 
Antonius, stricto ferro, ' aut militum se manibus, aut suis 4 

* moriturum' obtestans : ut quemque notum et aliquo mili- 
tari decore insignem adspexerat, ad ferendam opem nomine 
ciens : mox conversus ad signa, et bellorum Deos, ' hosti- 

* um potius exercitibus ilium furorem, illam discordiam 
1 injicerent, orabat: donee fatisceret seditio, et, extremo 
jam die, sua quisque in tentoria dilaberentur. Profectus 
eadem nocte Flavianus, ebviis Vespasiani litteris, discrimini 
exemptus est. (p) 

XI. Legiones, velut tabe infectae, Aponium Saturni- 
num, Moesici exercitus Legatum, eo atrocius adgrediuntur, 
quod non, ut prius, labore et opere fessae, sed medio diei 
exarserant : vulgaris epistolis, quas Saturninis ad Vitellium 
scripsisse credebatur. Ut olim virtutis modestiseque, tunc 
procacitatis et petulantias, certamen erat, ne minus violen- 
ter Aponium, quam Flavianum, ad supplicium deposcerent. 
Quippe Moesicae legiones, ' adjutam a se Pannonicorum ul- 
' tionem,' referentes, et Pannonici, velut absolverentur 
aliorum seditione, iterare culpam gaudebant. In hortos, in 
quibus devertebatur Saturninus, pergunt : nee tam Primus 
et Aponianus et Messala, quamquam omni modo nisi, eri- 
puere Saturninum, quam obscuritas latebrarum, quibus oc- 
culebatur, vacantium forte balnearum fornacibus abditus : 
mox, omissis lictoribus, Patavium concessit, (q) Digressu 
Consularium uni Antonio vis ac potestas in utrumque exer- 
citum fuit, cedentibus conlegis, et obversis militum studiis : 
nee deerant, qui crederent, utramque seditionem fraude 
Antonii cceptam, ut solus bello frueretur. 

XII. Ne in Vitellii quidem partibus quietae mentes, exi- 
tiosiore discordia, non suspicionibus vulgi, sed perfidia 
Ducum, turbabantur. Lucilius Bassus, (r) classis Raven- 

p This passage seems to have been misunderstood by some of the 
commentators. They observe, that there was not sufficient time for 
Vespasian to receive intelligence, and return an answer favourable to 
Flavianus ; but they might have recollected, that he who had a long 
journey to make, most probably received the letters in question at 
some place on the road. 

q Vacantium —fornacibus. In the furnace of a Jbath, then by 
chance, not in use. 

r For Lucilius Bassus, see Hist. ii. s. 100, 

U* • 



110 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822, 

natis Praefectus, ambiguos militum animos, quod magna 
pars Dalmatae Pannoniique erant, quse provincial Vespasia- 
no tenebantur, partibus ejus adgregaverat. Nox proditioni 
electa, ut, ceteris ignaris, soli in principia defectores coi- 
rent. Bassus pudore, seu metu, quisnam exitus foret, intra 
domum opperiebatur. Trierarchi magno tumultu Vitellii 
imagines invadunt, et, paucis resistentium obtruncatis, ce- 
terum vulgus, rerum novarum studio, in Vespasianum in- 
clinabat. Turn progressus Lucilius auctorem spe palam 
praebet : classis Cornelium Fuscum Praefectum sibi desti- 
nat, qui propere adcucurrit. Bassus honorata custodia 
liburnicis navibus Hadriam pervectus, a Praefecto alae Men- 
nio Rufino, praesidium illic agitante, vincitur. Sed exsoluta 
statim vincula, interventu Hormi, Caesaris liberti : is quo- 
que inter Duces habebatur. 

XIII. At Caecina, defectione classis vulgata, primores 
Centurionum et paucos militum, ceteris per militiae mune- 
ra dispersis, secretiora castrorum, adfectans, in principia vo- 
cat. (s) Ibi 4 Vespasiani virtutem viresque' partium extollit i 
4 transfugisse classem : in arcto commeatum : (£) adversus 
4 Gallias Hispaniasque : nihil in urbe fidum :* atque omnia 
de Vitellio in deterius. Mox incipientibus, qui conscii ade- 
rant, ceteros, re nova adtonitos, in verba Vespasiani adigit : 
simul Vitellii imagines direptae, etmissi, qui, Antonio nun- 
tiarent. Sed, ubi totis castris in fama proditio, recurrens 
in principia miles, praescriptum («) Vespasiani nomen, pro- 
jectas Vitellii effigies adspexit, vastum primo silentium, 
mox cuncta simul erumpunt : ' Hue cecidisse Germanici 
' exercitus gloriam, ut sine proelio, sine vulnere : vinctas 

- manus et capta traderent arma ? (Quas enim ex diverso 

- legiones ? nempe victas : et abesse unicum Othoniani ex- 
1 ercitus robur, primanos quartadecimanosque ; quos ta- 
4 men, iisdem illis campis, fuderint straverintque) ut arma- 
; torum millia, velut grex venalium, exsuli Antonio (v) do- 

• num darentur. Octo nimirum legiones unius classis ac- 
4 cessionem fore. Id Basso, id Caecinae visum : postquam 

• domos, bortos, opes, Principi abstulerint, etiam Principi 
s auferri militem : integros incruentosque, Flavianis quoque 

5 The part of the camp called Principia, was the plaee where the 
eagles were deposited. 

t In drcto commeatum. A scarcity of pro vitfioils, 
t* Pmscriptum, i, e. on their colours. 
$v Exsuli rfntonio* See Ann. xiv. 40. 



j. c. 69. H1ST0R. LIB. TERTIUS. Ill 

v partibus viles, (w?) militibus quid dicturos, reposcentibus 
8 aut prospera, aut adversa ?' 

XIV. Haec singuli, ha3c universi, ut quemque dolor in- 
pulerat, vociferantes, initio a quinta legione orto, repositis 
Vitellii imaginibus, vincla Caecinae injiciunt : Fabium Fa- 
bullum, quintan legionis Legatum, et Cassiura Longum, 
Praefectum castrorum, duces deligunt : forte oblatos trium 
Liburnicarum milites, ignaros et insontes, trucidant : relic- 
tis castris, abrupto ponte, Hostiliam rursus, inde Cremo- 
nam pergunt, ut legionibus, primae Italicae et unietvicesi- 
mae Rapaci, jungerentur, quas Caecina ad obtinendam Cre- 
monam, cum parte equitum praemiserat. 

XV. Ubi haec comperta Antonio, discordes animis, dis- 
cretos viribus hostium exercitus adgredi statuit, antequam 
ducibus auctoritas, militi obsequium et junctis legionibus 
fiducia rediret : namque Fabium Valentem, profectum ab 
urbe, acceleraturumque cognita Caecinas proditione, con- 
jectabat : et fidus Vitellio Fabius, nee militiae ignarus. 
Simul ingens Germanorum vis per Rhaetiam timebatur : et 
Britannia, Galliaque et Hispania, auxilia Vitellius acciverat 
inmensam belli luem, ni Antonius, id ipsum metuens, festi- 
nato proelio victoriam prascepisset. Universo cum exerci- 
tu, secundis a Verona castris, Bedriacum venit : postero 
die, legionibus ad muniendum retentis, auxiliares cohortes in 
Cremonensem agrum missaB, ut, specie parandarum copia- 
rum, civili praeda (rr) miles inbueretur. Ipse, cum qua- 
tuor millibus equitum, ad octavum a Bedriaco progressus, 
quo licentius popularentur : exploratores (ut mos est) lon- 
gius curabant. (y) 

XVI. Quinta ferme hora diei erat, cum citus eques, ( ad- 

* ventare hostes, praegredi paucos, motum fremitumque 

* late audiri,' nuntiavit. Dum Antonius, * quidnam agen- 
; dum,' consultat, aviditate navandae operae Arrius Varus 
cum promptissimis equitum prorupit, inpulitque Vitellianos, 
modica caede : nam, plurium adcursu versa fortuna, et acer- 
rimus quisque sequentium fugae ultimus erat : (z) nee 

w Flavianis — viles. To be the scorn of the party of Vespasian. 

x Civili prceda. With plunder collected from the fields of the 
citizens. 

y Exploratores longius curabant. The scouts took a wider 
range, — to discover the motions of the enemy. 

z Acerrimus quisque — ultimus erat. Those who pursued with the 
most eagerness, were in the rear ©f the retreat. This is the transla- 



112 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 822, 

sponte Antonii properatum, et fore, quae acciderant, reba- 
tur. Hortatus suos, ' ut magno animo capesserent pug- 
i nam,' diductis in latera turmis, vacuum medio relinquit 
iter, quo Varum equitesque ejus reciperet : jussae armari 
legiones : datum per agros signum, ut, qua cuique proxi- 
raum, omissa praeda, proelio occurrerent. Pavidus inte- 
rim Varus, turbae suorum miscetur, intuiitque formidinem : 
pulsi cum sauciis integri, suometipsi metu et angustiis via- 
rum conflictabantur. 

XVII. Nullum, in ilia trepidatione, Antonius constantis 
ducis, aut fortissimi militis, officium omisit : occursare pa- 
ventibus ; retinere cedentes : ubi plurimus labor, unde 
aliqua spes ; consilio, manu, voce insignis hosti, conspicuus 
suis : eo postremo ardoris provectus est, ut vexillarium fu- 
gientem hasta transverberaret : mox raptum vexillum in 
hostem vertit : quo pudore haud plures, quam centum 
equites, restitere. Juvit locus, arctiore illic via, et fracto 
iuterfluentis rivi (a) ponte, qui incerto alveo, et praecipiti- 
bus ripis, fugam inpediebat : ea necessitas, seu fortuna, 
lapsas jam partes restituit. Firmati inter se, densis ordi- 
nibus excipiunt Vitellianos temere effusos : atque illi con- 
sternantur. Antonius instare perculsis, sternere obvios. 
Simul ceteri, ut cuique ingenium, spoliare, capere, arma 
equosque abripere : et exciti prospero clamore, qui modo 
per agros fuga palabantur, victoriae se miscebant. 

XVIII. Ad quartum a Cremona lapidem fulsere legio- 
num signa, Rapacis atque Italicae, (6) laeto inter initia equi- 
tum suorum proelio. illuc usque provecta. Sed, ubi Fortu- 
na contra fuit, non laxare ordines, non recipere turbatos, 
nonobviam ire, ultroque adgredi hostem, tantum per spa- 
tium cursu et pugnando fessum. Forte victi, (c) haud pe- 
rinde rebus prosperis ducem desideraverant, atque in ad- 
versis deesse intelligebant. Nutantem aciem victor equi- 
iatus incursat : et Vipstanius Messala, Tribunus, cum Mce- 



non of Murphy. Ernestus supposes the sentence to mean; Those 
who were foremost in the pursuit were the first to fly. 

a The river now called Dermona, which is in Gallia Transpada- 
na ; it runs into the Oglio, and through that channel into the Po. 

b The twenty-first legion, called Rapaz, and the first called Italic , 
fought on *he side of Vitellius. See Hist ii. s. 100. 

c Forte victi. The text here seems corrupt ; for they were not 
yet conquered. Freinshemius supposes it should be read forte atii, 
L e. rashly, without deliberation, 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 113 

sicis auxiliaribus adsequitur, quos militiae legionariis, quam- 
quam raptim ductos, aequabant. Ita mixtus eques pedes- 
que rupere legionum agmen. Et propinqua Cremonensium 
moenia, quanto plus spei ad effugium, tanto minorem ad re- 
«istendum animum, dabant. 

XIX. Nee Antonius ultra institit, memor laboris ac vul- 
nerum, quibus tarn anceps proelii fortuna, quamvis prospe- 
ro fine, equites equosque adflictaverat. Inumbrante ves- 
pera universum Flaviani exercitus robur advenit. Utque 
cumulos (d) super et recentia caede vestigia incessere, 
quasi debellatum foret, i pergere Cremonam, et victos in 

* deditionem accipere, aut expugnare,' deposeunt. Haec in 
medio, pulchra dictu. Ilia sibi quisque, (e) 4 Posse colo- 

* niam piano sitam inpetu capi. Idem audaciaB pertenebras 
4 inrumpentibus, et majorem rapiendi licentiam : quod si 

* lucem opperiantur, jam pacem, jam preces et, pro labore 
4 ac vulneribus,clementiam et gloriam, inania, laturos : sed 

* opes Cremonensium in sinu Prasfectorum Legatorumque 
4 fore. Expugnatae urbis praedam ad militem, deditae ad 
4 duces, pertinere.' Spernuntur Centuriones Tribunique, 
ac, ne vox cujusquam audiatur, quatiunt arma, rupturi im- 
perium, ni ducantur. 

XX. Turn Antonius, inserens se manipulis,ubi adspectu 
et auctoritate silentium fecerat : c non se decus, neque pre- 
4 tium eripere tarn bene meritis,' adfirmabat ; * sed divisa 
4 inter exercitum ducesque munia : militibus cupidinem 
4 pugnandi convenire ; duces .providendo, consultando, 
4 cunctatione saepius, quam temeritate, prodesse. Ut pro 
c virili portione, armis ac manu, victoriam juverit, ratione 
4 et consilio. propriis ducis artibus, profuturum. Neque 
4 enim ambigua esse, quae occurrant : noctem et ignotae si- 

* turn urbis, intus hostes et cuncta insidiis opportuna : non, 
4 si pateant portae, nisi explorato, nisi die, intrandum. An 
4 oppugnationem inchoaturos, adempto omni prospectu, 
4 quis aequus locus, quanta altitudo moenium ? tormentisne 
4 et telis, an operibus et vineis, adgredienda urbs foret V 
Mox conversus ad singulos> 4 num secures, dolabrasque et 
4 cetera expugnandis urbibus, secum adtulissent V rogita- 



d Cumulos ; i. e. of the slain. 

e Hcee in medio — quisque. These things spoken, openly, in- 
dicated courage. But each one had his own selfish designs, viz, to 
acquire booty, f 



114 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

bat. Et, cum abnuerent, 4 gladiisne,' inquit, 4 et pilis per 
6 fringere ac subruere muros ullae manus possunt ? Si ag- 
4 gerem struere, si pluteis cratibusve protegi necesse fuerit, 
4 ut vulgus inprovidum, inriti stabimus, altitudinem turrium, 
4 et aliena munimenta mirantes ? Quin potius mora noctis 
4 unius, advectis tormentis machinisque, vim victoriamque 
4 nobiscum ferimus V Simul lixas calonesque, cum recen- 
tissimis equitum, Bedriacum mittit, copias, ceteraque usui 
adlaturos. 

XXI. Id vero aegre tolerante milite, prope seditionem 
yentum, cum progressi equites sub ipsa moenia, vagos ex 
Cremonensibus conripiunt : quorum indicio noscitur : 4 sex 
4 Vitellianas legiones omnemque exercitum, qui Hostiliae 
4 egerat, eo ipso die triginta miilia passuum emensum,com- 
4 perta suorum clade, in proelium accingi ac jam adfore.' 
Is terror obstructas mentes consiliis ducis aperuit. Sistere 
tertiam decimam legionem, in ipso vias Postumias aggere, 
jubet, cui juncta a laevo septima Galbiana, patenti campo 
stetit, dein septima Claudiana, agresti fossa (ita locus erat) 
praemunita ; dextro, octava per apertum limitem, (/) mox 
tertia, densis arbustis intersepta : hie aquilarum signorum- 
que ordo : milites mixti per tenebras, ut fors tulerat : Prse- 
torianum (g) vexillum proximum tertianis ; cohortes aux- 
iliorum incornibus ; latera ac terga equite circumdata : Si- 
do atque Italicus, Suevi, cum delectis popularium, primori 
in acie versabantur. 

XXII. At Vitellianus exercitus, cui adquiescere Cremo- 
nas et, reciperatis cibo somnoque viribus, confectum algore 
atque inedia hostem, postera die profligare ac proruere ra- 
tio fuit : (A) indigus rectoris, inops consilii, tertia ferine 
noctis hora, paratis jam dispositisque Flavianis inpingitur. 
Ordinem agminis, disjecti per iram ac tenebras, adseverare 
non ausim : quamquam alii tradiderint, ' quartam Macedo- 
:■* nicam dextro suorum cornu : quintam, et quintamdeci- 

6 mam, cum vexillis nonae secundaeque et vicesimae Bri- 
4 tannicarum legionum, mediam aciem ; sextadecimanos 
4 duoetvicesimanosque et primanos laevum cornu comples- 

/ Per apertum limitem. O n a wide extended plain. 

g Prcetorianum. The praetorian soldiers of Otho, who having been 
disbanded by Vitellius, and on that account enraged with him, had 
joined the party of Vespasian. 

h Cui — ratio fuit. Whose best course was, viz. to rest at Cremo- 
Ba, &c. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 3 15 

1 se.' Rapaces aique Italici omnibus se manipulis miscue- 
rant. Eques auxiliaque sibi ipsi locum legere. Proelium 
tota nocte varium, anceps, atrox ; his, rursus illis, exitia- 
bile. Nihil animus, aut manus, ne oculi quidem provisu ju- 
vabant : eadem utraque acie arma : crebris interrogationi- 
bus notum pugnae signum : (t) permixta vexilla, ut quisque 
globus, capta ex hostibus, hue vel illuc raptabat. Urgeba- 
tur maxime septima legio, nuper a Galba conscripta. Oc- 
cisi sex primorum ordinum Centuriones : abrepta quaedam 
signa : ipsam aquilam Atilius Verus, primipili Centurio, (J) 
multa cum hostium strage, et ad extremum moriens, ser- 
vaverat. 

XXIII. Sustinuitlabantem aciem Antonius, accitis Praa- 
*orianis : qui, ubi excepere pugnam, pellunt hostem, dein 
pelluntur. Namque Vitelliani tormenta in aggerem viae 
contulerant, ut tela vacuo atque aperto excuterentur, dis- 
persa primo et arbustis, sine hostium noxa, inlisa. Mag- 
nitudine eximia quintadecimae legionis balista (k) ingenti- 
bus saxis hostilem aciem proruebat : lateque cladem intu- 
lissent, ni duo milites, praeclarurn facinus ausi, adreptis e 
strage scutis ignorati, vincla ac libramenta tormentorum 
abscidissent : statim confossi sunt, eoque intercidere nomi- 
na : de facto haud ambigitur. Neutro inclinaverat fortuna, 
donee adulta nocte, luna surgens ostenderet acies falleret- 
que. Sed Flavianis aequior a tergo : hinc majores equorum 
virorumque umbrae, et falso, ut in corpora, ictu, tela hos- 
tium citra cadebant: Vitelliani adverse lumine conlucentes. 
velutex occulto jaculantibus, incauti offerebantur. 

XXIV. Igitur Antonius, ubi noscere sues noscique po- 
terat, alios pudore et probris, multos laude et hortatu, om- 
nes spe promissisque accendens, ■ cur rursum sumpsissent 
arma V Pannonicas legiones interrogabat : ' illos esse 
* campos, in quibus abolere labem prioris ignominies, ubi 

i Pugnce signum. The watch- word. 

J Primipili centurio. It appears from this that the first centurion 
was the standard-bearer. The standard of a Roman legion was a 
silver eagle, with expanded wing's, holding a thunderbolt in his 
claws. Each maniple had its standard, which was at first a "bundle of 
hav on the top of a pole ; afterwards, a spear with a cross piece of 
wood on the top. The standard of the cavalry was called vexilium< i 
a flag or banner which was also used by the veterans. 

k Balistce were engines, used in sieges, from which darts and stones 
of immense size were discharged at the besieged. See Vegetius. 
book iv. ?. 22. 



116 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822 

' reciperare gloriam possent.' Turn ad Moesicos conver* 
sus, c principes auctoresque belli' ciebat : ' frustra minis 

* et verbis provocatos Vitellianos, si manus eorum oculos- 

* que nontolerarent. 5 Haec, ut quosque accesserat : plura 
ad tertianos, veterum recentiumque admonens : ut ' sub 
■ M. Antonio Parthos, sub Corbulone Armenios, nuper Sar- 
8 matas pepulissent.' Mox, infensius Praetorianis : ' Vos,' 
inquit, ' nisi vincitis, pagani, quis alius Imperator, quae cas- 

* tra alia excipient ? Illic signa armaque vestra sunt, et 

* mors victis, nam ignominiamconsumpsistis.' (I) Undique 
clamor : et orientem solem (ita in Syria mos est) tertiani 
salutavere. (m) 

XXV^ Vagus inde, an consilio Ducis subditus rumor, 
4 advenisse Mucianum ; exercitus invicem sa'utasse : gra- 
dum inferunt, quasi recentibus auxiliis aucti ; rariore jam 
Vitellianorum acie, ut quos, nullo rectore, suns quemque 
inpetus vel pavor contraheret diduceretve. Postquam in- 
pulsos sensit Antonius, denso agmine obturbabat : laxati 
ordines abrumpuntur : nee restitui quivere, inpedientibus 
yehiculis tormentisque. Per limitem viae sparguntur, con- 
sectandi festinatione, victores. Eo notabilior caedes fuit, 
quia filius patrem interfecit : rem nominaque, auctore Vip- 
stano Messala, tradam. Julius Mansuetus, ex Hispania, 
Rapaci legioni additus^ inpubem filium domi liquerat : is 
mox adultus, inter septimanos a Galba conscriptus, oblatum 
forte patrem et vulnere stratum, dum semianimem scruta- 
tur, agnitus agnoscensque et exanguem amplexus, voce fle- 
bili precabatur ' piatos patris Manes, neve se ut parricidam 
4 aversarentur : publicum id facinus ; et unum militem 
i quotam civilium armorum partem V simul adtollere cor- 
pus, aperire humum. supremo erga parentem officio fungi. 
Advertere proximi, deinde plures : nine per omnem aciem 
miraculum et questus et saevissimi belli exsecratio : nee eo 
segnius propinquos, adfines, fratres trucidatos (n) spoliant : 
factum esse scelus loquuntur faciuntque. 

XXVI. Ut Cremonam venere, novum inmensumque 
opus occurrit. Othoniano bello, Germanicus miles mceni- 

l Ignominiam consumpsislis. You can receive no greater disho- 
nour than that which you have already received from Vitellius. See 
note g this book, s. 21 . 

m The eastern nations worshipped the rising sun. The Parthians 
are described in that act of devotion by Herodian, book iv. chap. 15. 

n Trucidatos. Some critics have substituted iruciduti. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS, in 

bus Cremonensium castra sua, castris vallum circumjecerat : 
eaque munimenta rursus auxerat : quorum adspectu haesere 
victores, incertis Ducibus, quid juberent : incipere oppugn 
nationem, fesso per diem noctemque exercitu, arduum, et, 
nullo juxta subsidio, anceps : sin Bedriacum redirent, in- 
tolerandus tarn longi itineris labor, et victoria ad invitum re • 
volvebatur : munire castra ? id quoque, propinquis hosti- 
bus, formidolosum, ne dispersos, et opus molientes subita 
eruptione turbarent : qua? super cuncta terrebat ipsorum 
miles, periculi quam morae pitientior: quippe ingrata, quae 
tuta, ex temeritate spes : omnisque caedes et vulnera et san= 
guis aviditate praedae pensabantur. 

XXVII. Hue inclinavit Antonius, ' cingique vallum coro- 
6 na' jussit : primo sagittis saxisque eminus certabant, ma- 
jore Flavianorum pernicie, in quos tela desuper libraban- 
tur : mox vallum portasque legionibus adtribuit, ut discretus 
labor fortes ignavosque distingueret, atque ipsa contentione 
decoris accenderentur. Proxima Bedriacensi viae tertiani 
septimanique sumpsere : dexterioravalli octava ac septima 
Claudiana : tertiadecimanos ad Brixianam (o) portam inpe- 
tus tulit. Paullum inde moras, dum e proximis agris ligo- 
nes, dolabras, et alii falces, scalasque convectant : turn, 
elatis super capita scutis, densa testudine succedunt. Ro- 
manae utrimque artes : pondera saxorum Vitelliani provol- 
vunt ; disjectam fluitantemque testudinem lanceis contisque 
. scrutantur : donee, soluta compage scutorum, exsangues aut 
laceros prosternerent multa cum strage. 

XXVIII. Incesserat cunctatio, ni Duces fesso militi, et 
velut inritas exhortationes abnuenti, Cremonam monstras* 
sent. Hormine ad ingenium, ut Messala tradit, an potior 
auctorsit C. Plinius, qui Antonium incusat, haud facile dig- 
creverim : nisi, quod neque Antonius, neque Hormus, a 
fama vitaque sua, quamvis pessimo flagitio, degeneravere* 
Non jam sanguis, neque vulnera morabantur, quin subrue- 
rent vallum, quaterentque portas ; innixi humeris et super 
iteratam testudinem scandentes, prensarent hostium tela 
bracbiaque : integri cum sauciis, semineces cum exspiranti* 
bus, volvuntur, varia pereuntium forma et omni imagine 
mortium. 

XXIX. Acerrimum septimae tertiaeque legionum certa- 
men : et Dux Antonius, cum delectie auxiliaribus, eodesx 

o Brixia, a town in Italy, new Brescia, 

12 



118 C. CORN. TACITI. a.u. c. 822. 

incubuerat. Obstinatos inter se cum sustinere Vitelliani 
nequirent, et superjacta tela testudine (p) laberentur ; ip- 
sam postremo balistam in subeuntes propulere : quae, ut ad 
praesens disjecit obruitque, quos inciderat, ita pinnas ac sum- 
ma valli ruina sua traxit: simul juncta turris ictibus saxo- 
rum cessit : qua septimani dum nituntur cuneis, tertianus 
securibus gladiisque portam perfregit. Primum inrupisse 
C. Volusium, tertian legionis militem, inter omnes auctores 
constat : is in vallum egressus, deturbatis qui restiterant, 
conspicuus manu ac voce ' capta castra' conclamavit : ce- 
teri, trepidis jam Vitellianis, seque e vallo praecipitantibus, 
perrupere : completur caede, quantum inter castra muros- 
que vacui fuit. (q) 

XXX. At rursus nova laborum facies : ardua urbis moe- 
nia, saxeae turres, ferrati portarum obices, vibrans tela 
miles, frequens obstrictusque Vitellianis partibus Cremo- 
nensis populus, magna pars ltaliae, stato in eosdem dies mer- 
catu congregata : quod defensoribus auxilium ob multitudi- 
nem, oppugnantibusincitamentum ob praedam, erat. ' Rapi 
i ignes' Antonius, ' inferique amoenissimis extra urbem 
aedificiis' jubet ; si damno rerum suarum Cremonenses ad 
mutandam fidem traherentur ; propinqua muris tecta, et 
altitudinem moenium egressa, fortissimo -quoque militum 
complet : il 11 trabibus tegulisque et facibus propugnatores 
deturbant. 

XXXI. Jam legiones in testudinem glomerabantur, et 
alii telasaxaque incutiebant, cum languescere paullatim Vi- 
tellianorum animi, Ut quis ordine anteibat, cedere fortu- 
ne : ne, Cremona quoque excisa, nulla ultra venia, omnis- 
que ira victoris, non in vulgus inops. sed in Tribunos, 
Centurionesque, ubi pretium caedis erat, reverteretur, 
Gregarius miles, futuri socors et ignobilitate tutior, prsesta- 
bat. Vagi per vias, in domibus abdiii, pacem ne turn qui- 
dem orabant, cum bellum posuissent. Primores castrorum 
nomen atque imagines Vitellii amoliuntur : catenas Caecinae 
(nam etiam turn vinctus erat) exsolvunt, orantque, % ut caus- 

p The lestudo was so constructed that the darts of the enemy could 
make no impression. Whoever is curious about the form of the tes- 
tudo, and other warlike engines employed in sieges, may consult Lu- 
can, book iii. v. 474. 

q Josephus says, that above thirty thousand of the Vitellians were 
put to the sword, and of Vespasian's army, about four thousand five 
hundred. De Bello Jud. bookiv, chap. 11. 



i.e. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 119 

* sae suae deprecator adsistat :' adspernantem tumentemque 
lacrimis fatigant (extremum malorum) tot fortissimi viri, 
proditoris opera iavocantes : mox velamenta et infulas (r) 
projnuris ostentaut. Cum Antonius ' inhiberi tela 5 jussis- 
set, signa aquilasque extulere : moestum inermium agmen, 
dejectis in terram oculis,sequebatur. Circumstiterant vic- 
tores, et primo ingerebant probra, intentabant ictus : mox, 
ut praeberi ora contumeliis, et, posita omni ferocia, cuncta 
victi patiebantur, subit recordatio, illos esse, qui nuper 
Bedriaci victoriae temperassent. Sed, ubi Caecina, prae- 
texta lictoribusque msignis, dimota turba, Consul incessit, 
exarsere victores : ' superbiam, saevitiamque' (adeo invisa 
scelera sunt) etiam i perfidiam,' objectabant. Obstitit An- 
tonius, datisque defensoribus, ad Vespasianum dimisit. 

XXXII. Plebs interim Cremonensium inter armatos con- 
ilictabatur : nee procul caede aberant, cum precibus Ducum 
mitigatus est miles. Et vocatos ad concionem Antonius ad- 
loquitur, magnitice victores, victos clementer : de Cremona 
in neutrum. (5) Exercitus praeter insitam praedandi cupi- 
dinem, vetere odio, ad excidium Cremonensium incubuit: 
juvisse partes Vitellianas, Othonis quoque bello, credeban- 
tur: mox tertiadecimanos, ad exstruendum amphitheatrum 
relictos, ut sunt procacia urbanse plebis ingenia, petulanti- 
bus jurgiis inluserant. Auxit invidiam editum illic a Caecina 
gladiatorum spectaculum : eademque rursus belli sedes : 
et praebiti in acie Vitellianis cibi : caesae quaedam feminae, 
studio partium ad prcelium progressae : tempus quoque mer- 
catus, ditem alioqui coloniam, majorum opum specie com- 
plebat. Ceteri Duces in obscuro : Antonium fortuna fama- 
que omnium oculis exposuerat : is balneas, abluendo cruori, 
propere petit : excepta vox est, cum teporem incusaret, (f) 
\ statim, futurum, ut incalescerent.' Vernile dictum omnem 
invidiam in eum vertit, tamquam ' signum incendendae Cre- 
' monae dedisset, quae jam flagrabat. 

XXXIII. Quadraginta armatorum millia inrupere, calo- 
rmm lixarumque amplior numerus, et in libidinem ac saevi- 

r Velamenta et infulas. The display of clothes and sacerdotal 
vestments in the act of suing for peace has been mentioned, Hist. i. 
s. 66. 

s De Cremona in neutrum. That is, he did not manifest whether 
it was his intention to save Cremona or not. 

i Cum teporem incusaret. When he complained that the bath was 
not sufficiently warm. 



120 C. CORN. TAClTi. a. u. c. S22, 

tiam conruptior. Non dignitas, non setas protegebat, quo 
minus stupra caedibus, casdes stupris miscerentur. Grandas- 
vos senes, exacta astate feminas, viles ad prsedam, (u) in 
ludibrium trahebant. Ubi adulta virgo, aut quis forma con- 
spicuus, incidisset, vi manibusque rapentium divulsus, ipsos 
postremo direptores in mutuam perniciem agebat : dum 
pecuniam, vel gravia aur~ templorum dona, sibi quisque 
trahunt, majore aliorum vi truncabantur. Quidam obvia 
adspernati, verberibus tormentisque dominorum abdita scru- 
tari, defossa eruere. Faces in manibus : quas,ubi praedam 
egesserant, in vacuas domos et inania templa per lasciviam 
jaculabantuTv- utque exercitu, vario linguis, moribus, cui 
cives, socii, externi interessent, diversse cupidines, et aliud 
cuique fas, nee quidquam inlicitum. Per quatriduum Cre- 
mona suffecit. Cum omnia saGra profanaque in igne consi- 
derent, solum Mephitis (v) templum stetit ante moenia, 
loco, seu Numine defensum. 

XXXIV. Hie exitus Cremonae, anno CCLXXVI. a pri- 
mordio sui. Condita erat Ti. Serapronio et Cornell® 
Consulibus, ingruente in Italiam Hannibale, propugnacu- 
lum ad versus Gallos, trans Padum agentes, et si qua alia vis 
per Alpes rueret. Igitur numero colonorum, opportuni- 
tate fluminum, ubere agri, annexu connubiisque genti- 
um, (w) adolevit floruitque, bellis externis intacta; civili- 
bus infelix. Antonius, pudore flagitii, crebescente invidia 3 
edixit, ' ne quis Cremonenses captivos detineret :' inritam- 
que praedam militibus effecerat consensus Italia?, emptio- 
nem talium mancipiorum adspernantis. Occidi ccepere. 
quod ubi enotuit, a propinquis adfinibusque occulte redemp- 
tabantur : mox rediit Cremonam reliquus populus : reposi- 
ta fora templaque munificentia municipum : et Vespasia- 
nus hortabatur. 

XXXV. Ceterum adsidere sepultas urbis ruinis, noxia 
tabo humus baud diu permisit : ad tertium lapidem progres- 



u Files ad prcedam. Who were of no value on account of their 
age or imbecility. Barbou supposes this the idea. Murphy trans- 
lates the sentence thus : who had no wealth to satisfy avarice. 

v Mephitis was the goddess worshipped in all places that sent forth 
aoxious exhalations, 

w Whoever is curious about the distinctions between what the 
R,omans called Connubium and Matrimonium, with the different ce- 
remonies observed in each, may consult Brotier's Tacitus, quarto e#* 
u*on. vol, ii. p. 456< 



ji c. Q9. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 121 

si, vagos paventesque Vitellianos, sua quemque apud signa, 
componunt. Et victae legiones, ne, manente adhuc civili bel- 
lo, ambigue agerent, per Ulyricum dispersae. In Britan- 
niam inde et Hispanias mmtios famamque, in Galliam Juli- 
utn Calenum, Tribunum: in Gerraaniam Alpinum Mon- 
tanura, Praefectnm cohortis, quod hie Trevir, Calenus 
iEduus, uterque Vitelliani fuerant, ostentui misere. Simul 
transitus Alpium praesidiis occupati : suspecta Germania, 
tamquam in auxilium Vitellii accingeretur. 

XXXVI. At Vitellius, profecto Caecina, cum Fabium 
Valentem, paucis post diebus, ad bellum impulisset, curis 
luxum obtendebat : non parare arma, non adloquio exerci- 
tioque militem firmare, non in ore vulgi agere : sed urn- 
braculis hortorum abditU3, ut ignava animalia, quibus si 
cibum suggeras, jacent torpentque, praeterita, instantia, 
futura, pari oblivione dimiserat. Atque ilium, in nemore 
Aricino (x) desidem et marcentem, proditio Lucilii Bassi, 
ac defectio classis Ravennatis percuht Nee multo post 
de Caecina adfertur mixtus gaudio dolor : et descivisse, et 
ab exercitu vinctum : plus apud socordem animum laetitia, 
quam cura valuit : multa cum exsultatione in urbem revec- 
tus,frequenticoncione, ' pietatem miiitum' laudibus cumu- 
Iat. * P. Sabinum, Praetorii Praefectum, ob amicitiam 
i Caecinae, vinciri' jnbet, substitute in locum ejus Alpheno 
Varo. 

XXXVII. Mox Senatum, composita in magnificentiam 
oratione, adlocutus, exquisitis Patrum adulationibus adtol- 
litur. Initium atrocis in Caecinam sententiae a L. Vitellio 
factum : dein ceteri, composita indignatione, c quod Consul 
% Rempublicam, Dux Imperatorem, tantis opibus, tot hono- 
1 ribus cumulatus, amicum prodidisset,' velut pro Vitellio 
conquerentes, suum dolorem proferebant. Nulla in oratio- 
ne cujusquam erga Flavianos Duces obtrectatio : * erro* 
€ rem imprudentiamque exercituum' culpantes, Vespasiani 
nomen suspensi et vitabundi circumibant Nee defuit, qui 
unum Consulatus diem (is enim in locum CaecinaB supere- 
rat) magno cum inrisu tribuentis accipientisque. eblandire- 
tur : pridie Kal. Novembris Rosius Regulus iniit, ejuravit- 
que. Adnotabant periti, c nunquam antea, non abrogate 

x Aricia, a town of Latium in Italy, at the foot of Mora Alhanw 9 
&beut a hundred and sixty stadia from Rome. The grere called 
Aricinum ramus was in the vicinity. 

12 * 



122 C. CORN. TACITL a. v. c. 82-2. 

* Magistratu, neque lege lata, alium suffectum :' nam Consul 
unodie et antefuerat Caninius Rebilus, (y) C. Caesare Dic- 
tatore, cum belli civilis praemia festinarentur. 

XXXVIII. Nota per eos dies Junii Blaesi mors et famosa 
fuit : de qua sic accepimus. Gravi corporis morbo aeger. 
Yitellius. Serrilianis hortis* turrim vicino sitam conlucere 5 
per noctem, crebris luminibus animadvertit. Sciscitanti 
caussam, c apud Caecinam Tuscum epulari niultos, praeci- 

* puum honore Jiinium Blaesum,' nuntiatur : cetera in ma- 
jus* de ' adparatu et solutis in lasciviam animis :' nee de- 
fuere, qui ipsum Tuscum et alios, sed criminosius Blaesum, 
incusarent, * quod, eegro Principe, laetos dies ageret.' 
Ubi asperatum Vitellium, et posse Blaesum perverti, satis 
patuit iis, qui Principum offensas, acriter speculantur, datae 
L. Vitellio delationis partes. Ille infensus Blaeso semula- 
tione prava, quod eum, omni dedeGore maculosum, egregia 
fama anteibat, cubiculum Imperatoris reserat, filium ejus 
sinu complexus et genibus accidens : caussam confusionis 
quaprenti, ' non se proprio metu, nee sui anxium, sed pro 

* fratre, pro liberis fratris, preces lacrimasque adtulisse. 

* Frustra Vespasianum tirneri, quern tot Germanicae le- 

* giones, tot provincial virtute ac fide, tantum denique ter- 
6 raruui ac maris immensis spatiis, arceat. In urbe ac 

* sinu cavendum hostem, Junios Antoniosque avos jactan- 

* tern, qui se stirpe Imperatoria, comem ac magnificum mi- 
% litibus, ostentet. Versas illuc omnium mentes, dum Vitel- 
4 lius, amicorum inimicorumque negligens, foveat aemulum, 

* Principis lobores (z) e convivio prospectantem. Red- 
! dendam pro intempestiva laetitia moestam et funebrem 

* noctem, qua sciat et sentiat, vivere Vitellium et imperare 
4 et, si quid fato accidat filium habere. 5 

XXXIX. Trepidanti inter scelus metumque, ne dilata 
Blaesi mors maturam perniciem, palam jussa atrocem invi- 
diam, ferret, placuit veneno grassari. Addidit facinori 

y The consulship, in the time of the Republic, was an annual ma- 
gistracy ; but Julius Caesar, in haste to reward his friends, shortened 
the duration of the o.uice, and advanced several to that dignity -within 
the year. He v/as himself sole consul, A. U. C. 709 ; he resigned in 
favour of Fabius Maximus and Caius Trebonius Nepos. The former 
dying on the very last day in the year, he appointed Caninius Rebi^' 
lusto fill the remaining space. 

z Principis labored. The languid conditio!* of tile Bmperotv 



j. r. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 123 

fidem nobili gaudio, (a) Blaesum visendo : quin et audita 
est saevissima Vitellii vox, qua ' se' (ipsa enim verba re- 
feram) c pavisse ocuios, spectata inimici morte,' jactavit. 
Blaeso, super claritatem natalium et elegantiam morum, 
fidei obstinatio fuit. Integris quoque rebus, a Caecina et 
primoribus partium, jam Vitellium adspemantibus, ambitus* 
abnuere perseveravit : sanctus, inturbidus, nullius, repen- 
tini honoris, adeo non Principatus adpetens, parum effuge- 
rat, ne dignus crederetur. (b) 

XL. Fabius interim Valens, multo ac molli concubina- 
rum spadonumque agmine segnius quam ad bellum incedens, 
' proditam a Lucilio Basso Ravennatem classem,' pernici- 
bus nuntiis accepit. Et, si coeptum iter properasset, nu- 
tantem Caecinam praevenire, aut, ante discrimen pugnae, 
adsequi legiones potuisset. Nee deerant, qui monerent, 

* ut cum fidissimis per occultos tramites, vitata Raven- 

* na, (c) Hostiliam Cremonamve pergeret.' Aliis placebat, 

* accitis ex urbe Praetoriis cohortibus valida manu perrum- 
< pere.' Ipse, inutili cunctatione, agendi tempora consul- 
tando consumpsit : mox utrumque consilium adspernatus, 
quod inter ancipitia deterrimum est, dum media sequitur, 
nee ausus est satis, nee providit. 

XLI. Missis ad Vitellium litteris, auxilium postulat. 
Venere tres cohortes cum ala Britannica : neque ad fal- 
lendum aptus numerus, neque ad penetrandum. Sed Va- 
lens ne in tanto quidem discrimine infamia caruit, quo minus 
rapere inlicitas voluptates, adulteriisque ac stupris pollu- 
ere hospitum domus, crederetur : aderant vis et pecunia 
et mentis fortunae novissima libido, (d) Adventu demum 
peditum equitumque pravitas consilii patuit, quia nee va- 
dere per hostes tarn parva manu poterat, etiam si fidissima 
foret, nee integram fidem adtulerant. Pudor tamen et pras- 
sentis Ducis reverentia morabatur, haud diuturna vincula 
apud avidos periculorum et dedecoris securos. Eo me- 



at Nobili gaudio, with great joy. 

b Parum effugerat — crederetur. He narrowly escaped being deem- 
ed worthy of the succession. 

c Ravenna, an ancient city of Italy, near the coast of the Adriatic, 
It is still called Ravenna. 

d Et mentis fortunaz novissima libido. He gave greater license 
to his passions because he foresaw a reverse of fortune, 



124 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 822, 

tu, (e) cohortes Ariminum (/) praemittit, alam ' tueri terga* 
jubet : ipse, paucis, quos adversa non mutaverant, comi- 
tantibas, flexit in Umbriam, (g) atque inde Etruriam : ubi, 
cognito pugna3 Cremonensis eventu, non ignavum, et, si 
provenisset, atrox consilium iniit, ut, adreptis navibus, in 
quaracunque partem Narbonensis provincial egressus, 
Gallias et exercitus et Germanise gentes novumque bellum 
cieret. 

XLII. Digresso Valente, trepidos, qui Ariminum tene- 
bant, Cornelius Fuscus, admoto exercitu, et missis per 
proxima litorum Liburnicis, terra marique circumvenit. 
Occupantur plana Umbrias et qua Picenus ager Adria ad- 
luitur : omnisque Italia, inter Vespasianum ac Vitellium, 
Apennini jugis dividebatur. Fabius Valens, e sinu Pisano, 
fh) saevitia maris, aut adversante vento, Portum Herculis 
Monoeci depellitur: haud procul inde agebat Marius Ma- 
turus, Alpium maritirnarum Procurator, fidus Vitellio, cu- 
ius sacramentum, cunctis circa hostilibus, nondum exuerat. 
Is Valentem comiter exceptum, * ne Galliam Narbonensem 
4 temere ingrederetur,' monendo terruit : simul ceterorum 
fides metu infracta : namque circumjectas civitates Procu- 
rator Valerius Paullinus, strenuus militiae, et Vespasiano 
ante fortunam amicus in verba ejus adegerat. 

XLIII. Concitisque omnibus, qui exauctorati a Vitellio 
bellum sponte sumebant, Forojuliensem coloniam, claustra 
maris, praesidio tuebatur : eo gravior auctor, quod Paullino 
patria Forum Julii, et honos apud Prastorianos, quorum 
quondam Tribunus fuerat. Ipsique pagani, favore munici- 
pali et futurae potential spe, juvare partes adnitebantur : 
quag ubi paratu firma, et aucta rumore, apudvarios Vitel- 
lianorum animos increbuere, Fabius Valens cum quatuor 
speculatoribus et tribus amicis, totidem Centurionibus, ad 
naves regreditur : Maturo ceterisque remanere, et in verba 
Vespasiani adigi, volentibus fuit. Ceterum ut mare tutius 
Valenti, quam litora, aut urbes ; ita futuri ambiguus, et 
magis, quid vitaret, quam cui fideret, certus, adversa tern- 

c Eo metu, i. e. lest his soldiers should desert him. 

/ Ariminum, a town of Umbria, at the mouth of the river Ariminus, 
on the gulf of Venice. 

g Umbria, a division of Italy, to the south-east of Etruria, between 
the Adriatic and the Nar. 

h Sinu Pisano, The bay of Pisa, in Etruria, 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 125 

pestate Stoechadas, (i) Massiliensium insulas, adfertur : ibi 
eum missae a Paullino liburnica3 oppressere. 

XLIV. Capto Valente, cuncta advictoris opes conversaj 
initio per Hispaniam a prima Adjutrice legione orto, quae, 
memoria Othonis infensa Vitellio, decimam quoque ac sex- 
tan: traxit. Nee Gallia? cunctabantur. Et Britanniam in- 
clitus erga Vespasianum favor, quod illic secundae legioni a 
Claudio propositus et bello clarus egerat, non sine motu 
adjunxit ceterarum, (y) in quibus plerique Centuriones ac 
milites a Vitellio pro vecti, expertum jam Principem anxii 
mutabanf. 

XLV. Ea discordia, et crebris belli civilis rumoribus, 
Britanni sustulere animos, auctore Venutio : qui, super 
insitam ferociam et Romani nominis odium, propriis in Car- 
tismanduarn Reginam stimulis accendebatur. Cartisman- 
dua Brrgantibus imperitabat, pollens nobilitate : et auxerat 
potentiam, postquam, capto per dolum Rege Caractaco (k) 
instruxisse triumphum Claudii Caesaris videbatur. Inde 
opes, et rerum secundarum luxus : spreto Venutio (is fuit 
maritus) armigerum ejus, Vellocatum, in matrimonium 
Regnumque accepit. Concussa statim flagitio domus. Pro 
marito studia civitatis ; pro adultero libido Reginae et sae- 
vitia. Igitur Venutius accitis auxiliis, simul ipsorum Bri= 
gantum defectione, in extremum discrimen Cartismanduam 
adduxit. Turn petita a Romanis praesidia : et cohortes 
ala&que nostra?, variis proeliis, exemere tamen periculo 
Reginam. Regnum Venutio, bellum nobis, relictum. 

XL VI. Turbata per eosdem dies Germania, et socordia 
ducum, et seditione legionum, Externa vi, pertidia socia- 
li, prope adflicta Romana res. Id bellum cum caussis et 
eventibus (etenim longius provectum est) mox memora- 
bimus. Mota et Dacorum gens, numquam fida, tunc sine 
metu, abducto e Moesia exercitu. Sed prima rerum quieti 
speculabantur : (/) ubi flagrare Italiam bello, cuncta invi- 
cem hostilia, accepere, expugnatis cohortium alarnmque 
hibernis utraque Danubii ripa potiebantur. Jamque castra 

i StczchadeS) five islands, now called the Hieres,on the coast of Pro- 
vence. 

j Non sine motu ceterarum. Legionum is understood. 

k For Caractacus and Cartismandua queen of the Brigantes, see 
Annals, xii. s. 32 to 36. 

I Sed prima, etc. But they quietly watched the first movements of 
;ivil discord among the Romans, 



ne C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

legionum exscindere parabant, ni Muci'anus sextamlegionem 
opposuisset, Cremonensis victoriae gnarus, ac ne externa 
moles utrimque ingrueret, si Dacus Germanusque diversi 
inrupissent. Adfuit, ut saepe alias, Fortuna Populi Roma- 
ni, quae Mucianum viresque Orientis illuc tulit : et quod 
Cremonae interim transegimus. Fonteius Agrippa (m) ex 
Asia (pro Consule earn provinciam annuo imperio tenue- 
rat) Moesiae praepositus est : additis copiis e Vitelliano ex- 
ercitu, quern spargi per provincias. et externo bello inliga- 
ri, pars consilii pacisque erat. Nee ceterae nationes sile- 
bant. 

XLVII. Subita per Pontum arma barbarum mancipium, 
Regiae quondam classis Praefectus, moverat : is fuit Anice- 
tus, Polemonis (n) libertus, praepotens olim, et, postquam 
regnum in formam provincias verterat, mutationis inpatiens. 
Igitur Vitellii nomine, adscitis gentibus, quae Pontum ad- 
colunt, conrupto in spem rapinarum egentissimo quoque, 
haud temnendse manus ductor, Trapezuntem, (o) vetusta 
fama civitatem, a Graecis, in extremo Ponticae orae condi- 
tarn, subitus inrupit. Caesa ibi cohors, Regium auxilium 
olim, mox donati civitate Romana, (p) signa armaque in 
nostrum modum, desidiam licentiamque Graecorum, retine- 
bant. Classi quoque faces intulit, vacuo mari, eludens, 
quia lectissimas Liburnicarum, omnemque militem Mucia- 
nus Byzantium adegerat. Quin et barbari contemptim va- 
gabantur, fabricatis repente navibus, (9) (' camaras' voeant) 
arctis lateribus, lata alvo, sine vinculo aeris aut ferri con- 
nexa : et tumido mari, prout fluxus adtollitur, summa navi- 
um tabulis augent, donee in modum tecti claudantur. Sic 
inter undas volvuntur, pari utrimque prora, et mutabili re- 
migio, quando hinc vel illinc adpellere indiscretum et in- 
noxium est. 

m According to Josephus, Fonteius Agrippa was afterwards mur- 
dered by the Sarmatians. Bell. Jud. book viii. c. 4. 

n Polemon was made king of Pontus by Caligula ; and, after his 
death, the kingdom was changed by Nero into a Roman province. 
Suetonius, in Nero, s. 18. 

o Now Trebizonde. 

p Donati civitate Romana. Having received the privilege of Ro- 
man citizens. By granting the freedom of the city, the Romans drew 
distant colonies into close alliance. 

q These canoes were so light, that the barbarians could carry them 
on their shoulders, and traverse woods and forests without being fa- 
tigued with their load. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 127 

XLVIII. Advertit ea res Vespasiani animum, ut vexilla- 
rios e legionibus, Ducemque Virdium Geminum, spectatae 
militiae, deligere. llle incompositum, et praeuae cupidine 
vagum hostem adortus, coegit in naves : effectisque raptim 
liburnicis, adsequitur Anicetum in ostio fluminis Cohibi, (r) 
tatum sub Sedochezorum Regis auxilio (s) quern pecunia 
donisque ad societatem perpulerat. Ac primo Rex minis 
armisque supplicem tueri : postquam merces proditionis 
aut bellum ostendebatur ; fluxa, ut est barbaris, fide, pac- 
tus Aniceti exitium, perfugas tradidit, belloque servili finis 
inpositus. Laetum ea victoria Vespasianum, cunctis super 
vota fluentibus, Cremonensis prcelii nuntius in iEgypto ad- 
sequitur. Eo properantius Alexandriam pergit, ut, fracto 
Vitellii exercitu, urbem quoque externae opis indigam fame 
urgeret. Namque et Africam, eodem latere sitam, terra 
marique invadere parabat, clausis annonae sufesidiis, inopi- 
am ac discordiam hosti facturus. 

XLIX. Dum hac totius orbis mutatione fortuna Imperii 
transit, Primus Antonius nequaquam pari innocentia post 
Cremonam agebat ; satisfactum bello ratus et cetera ex fa- 
cili, seu felicitas in tali ingenio avaritiam, superbiam cete- 
raque occulta mala patefecit : ut captam, Italiam persulta- 
re ; ut suas, legiones colere : omnibus dictis factisque viam 
sibi ad potentiam struere : utque licentia militem inbueret, 
interfectorum Centurionum ordines legionibus offerebat : 
(t) eo suffragio turbidissimus quisque delecti : nee miles 
in arbitrio ducum, sed duces militari violentia trahebantur-: 
quae seditiosa, et conrumpendae disciplinae, mox in praedam 
vertebat, (u) nihil adventantem Mucianum veritus ; quod 
exitiosius erat, quam Vespasianum sprevisse. 

L. Ceterum propinqua hieme, et humentibus Pado cam- 

r The river Cohibus, Brotier says, ought to be called Cobum, be- 
ing the same mentioned by the Elder Pliny, book vi. s. 4. Flumen 
Cobum e Caucaso per Suanos flutns. It discharges itself into the 
Euxine. 

s The commentators agree that there is here an error in the text : 
instead of Sedochezorum regis, the true reading is, sub Sedochi Lazo- 
rum regis auxilio. The Lazi were a people of Sarmatia, on the east 
side of the Euxine. , 

t Ordines offerebat. He allowed the legions to elect such centu- 
rions as they pleased. 

u Qwce seditiosa — vertebat. From the pursuit of these measures 
which were seditious in their tendency and calculated to destroy dis- 
cipline, he turned his attention to plunder. 



128 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. v. c. 822. 

pis, expeditum agmen incedere. Signa aquilaeque victri- 
cium legionam, milites vulneribus aut aetate graves, pleri- 
que etiam integri, Veronae relicti : sufficere cohortes alee- 
que, et e legionibus lecti, profligato jam bello, videbantur. 
Undecima legio sese adjunxerat, initio cunctata ; sed, pros- 
peris rebus, anxia, quod defuisset. Sex millia Dalmata- 
rum, recens delectus, comitabantur. Ducebat Poppaeus 
Silvanus, Consalaris : vis consiliorum j>enes Annium Bas- 
sum, legionis Legatum : is Silvanum socordem bello, et 
dies reruin (y) verbis terentem, specie obsequii regebat, 
ad omniaque, quae agenda forent, quieta cum industria ade- 
rat. Ad has copias, e classicis Ravennatibus, legionariam 
militiam poscentibus, optimus quisque adsciti : classem 
Dalmatae suplevere. Exercitus Ducesque ad Fanum For- 
tuna3 (w) iter sistunt, de summa rerum cunctantes, quod, 
* motas ex urbe Prsetorias cohortes,' audierant, et teneri 
praesidiis x\penninum rebantur : et ipsos, in regione bello 
adtrita, inopia et seditiosae militum voces terrebant, * clavari- 
4 urn' (x) flagitantium : nee pecuniam aut frumentum pro- 
viderant : et festinatio atque aviditas praepediebant, dum, 
quae accipi poterant, rapiuntur. 

LI. Celeberrimos auctores habeo, tantam victoribus ad- 
versus fas nefasque inreverentiamfuisse, utgregarius eques, 
occisum a se, proxima acie, fratrem professus, praemium a 
Ducibus petierit. Nee illis aut honorare earn csedem jus 
hominum, (?/) aut ulcisci ratio belli, permittebat. Distu- 
lerant, tamquam majora meritum, quam quae statim exsol- 
verentur : nee quidquam ultra traditur. Ceterum et pri- 
oribus civium bellis par scelus inciderat : nam proelio, quod 
apud Janiculum (2) adversus Cinnam pugnatum est, Pom- 
peianus miles fratrem suum, dein, cognito facinore, seipsum 

v Dies reruin. The time when he ought to act. 

w Fanum Fortunes. Now Fano, a port town of Urbino, on the 
Adriatic. 

x Clavarium was a donative granted to the soldiers to enable them 
to purchase nails for their shoes. In like manner, the donative for 
shoes was called Calcearium. 

y Jus hominum. The law of nations, or natural law. 

z Janiculum^ a high hill at Rome, but not one of the seven ; now 
called Monte Gianicolo, and more commonly Montorio. The story 
of a soldier killing his brother in battle, and on the discovery despatch- 
ing himself, is told by Valerius Maximus, book v. chap. 5. s. 4. but 
attributed to a soklier under Sertorius. See Livy's Epitome, book 
Ixsix. 



j. c. 69- HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 129 

interfecit, ut Sisenna memorat : tanto acrior apud majores, 
sicut virtutibus gloria, ita flagitiis pcenitentia, fuit. Sed 
haec aliaque, ex veteri meraoria petita, quotiens res locus- 
que exempla recti, au-t solatia mali, poscet, haud absurde 
memorabimus. 

LII. Antonio, ducibusque partium, ' prasmitti equites, 
' omnemque Umbriam explorari' placuit, si ' qua Apennini 

* juga clementius adirentur : acciri aquilas signaque et quid- 
1 quid Veronae militum foret : Padumque et mare comrae- 
' atibu* compleri.' Erant inter duces, qui necterent mo- 
ras : quippe nimius jam Antonius, et certiora ex Muciano 
sperabantur. Namque Mucianus, tarn ceieri victoria anx- 
ius, et, ni praesens urbe potiretur, expertem se belli glo- 
riaeque ratus, ad Primum et Varum media scriptitabat, (a) 
1 instandum coeptis,' aut rursus ' cunctandi utilitates' edis- 
serens, atque ita compositus c ut ex eventu rerum adverse 
abnueret, vel prospera agnosceret. Plotium Griphum* 
nuper ab Vespasiano in Senatorium ordinem additum, ac 
legioni praepositum, ceterosque sibi fidos, apertius monuit. 
Iique omnes, de festinatione Primi ac Vari sinistre, et Mu- 
ciano volentia, rescripsere. (b) Quibus epistolis Vespasia- 
no missis, effecerat, ut non pro spe Antonii consilia facta- 
que ejus aestimarentur. 

LIII. iEgre id pati Antonius, et culpam in Mucianum 
conferre, cujus criminati-onibus evilnissent pericula sua: 
(c) nee sermonibus temperabat, inmodicus lingua, et obse- 
qui insolens : litteras ad Vespasianum composuit, jactantius 
quam ad Principem, nee sine occulta in Mucianum insec- 
tatione : ; se Pannonias legiones in arma egiss~e : suis stimu- 
c lis excitos Moesiae duces : sua constantia perruptas Alpes, 

* occupatam Italians, intersepta Germanorum Rhaetorumque 
6 auxilia. Quod discordes dispersasque Vitellii legiones 
s equestri procella, mox peditum vi, per diem noctemque, 
c fudisset, id pulcherrimum et sui operis. Casum Cremo- 

* use bello inputandum: majore damno, plurium urbium 

* excidiis, veteres civium discordias Reipublicae stetisse. 
i Non se nuntiis, neque epistolis, sed manu et armis Impe- 



a Media scriptitabat. His letters were dark, ambiguous. 

b Iique omnes — Muciano volentia, rescripsere* They all returned, 
answers agreeable to Mucianus. 

c Cujus criminationibus, etc. By the accusations at insinuations of 
whom, his own services were undervalued. 

13 



130 



C. CORN. TACIT I. 



a. v. c. &22, 



1 ratori suo militare : neque officere gloriae eorum, qui 
4 Asiam interim composuerint : illis Moesiae pacem, sibi 

* salutem securitatemque Italiae, cordi fuisse. Suis exhor- 
€ tationibusGalliasHispaniasque,validissimam terrarum par- 

* tem, ad Vespasianum conversas. Sed cecidisse ininritum 

* labores, si praemia periculorum soli adsequantur, qui pe- 

* riculis non adfuerint. 5 Nee fefellere ea Mueianum : inde 
graves simultates quas Antonius simplicius, Mucianus calli- 
de, eoque inplacabilius nutriebat. 

LIV. At Vitellius, fractis apud Cremonam rebus, nun- 
tios cladis occultans, stulta dissimulatione, remedia potius 
malorum, quara mala, differebat. Quippe confitenti con- 
sultantique supererant spes viresque : cum e contrario laeta 
omnia fingeret, falsis ingravescebat. Mirum apud ipsum de 
bello silentium : probibiti per chitatem sermones : eoque 
plures, ac, si liceret, vere narraturi ; quia vetabantur, 
atrociora vulgaverant. Nee duces hostium augendae famae 
deerant, captos Vitellii exploratores circumductosque, ut 
robora victoris exercitus noscerent, remittendo : quos om- 
nes Vitellius, secreto percunctatus, interfici jussit. Nota- 
bili constantia Centurio, Julius Agrestis, post multos ser- 
mones, quibus Vitellium ad virtutem frustra accendebat, 
perpulit, ut ad vires hostium spectandas, quaeque apud 
Cremonam acta forent, ipse mitteretur. Nee exploratione 
occulta fallere Antonium tentavit, sed mandata Imperatoris 
suumque animum professus, ut cuncta viseret, postulate 
Missi, qui locum proelii, Cremonae vestigia, captas legicnes 
ostenderent, Agrestis ad Vitellium remeavit, abnuentique, 

* vera esse, quae adferret,' atque ultra ' conruptum' arguen- 
ti : ' quandoquidem,' inquit, ; magno documento opus est, 

* nee alius jam tibi aut vitae, aut mortis meas usus, dabo, cui 

* credas :' atque ita digressus, voluntaria morte dicta firma- 
vit. Quidam ' jussu Vitellii interfectum ;' de 4 fide con- 
stantiaque' eadem, tradidere. 

LV Vitellius, ut e somno excitus, ' Julium Priscum 
< et Alphenum Varum cum quatuordecim Praetoriis cohor- 
c tibus et omnibus equitum alis obsidere Apenninum' ju- 
bet. Secuta e classicis legio. Tot millia armatorum, lecta 
equis virisque, si Dux alius foret, inferendo quoque bello 
satis pollebant. Ceterae cohortes ad tuendam urbem L. 
Vitellio fratri datse. Ipse, nihil e solito luxu remittens, et 
difiidentia properus, festinare comitia, quibus Consules in 



i. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. m 

multos annos destinabat: foedera sociis, Latium (e?) exter- 
nis, dilargiri : his tributa dimittere, alios inmunitatibus ju- 
vare : denique, nulla in posterum cura, lacerare Imperium. 
Sed vulgus ad magnitudinem beneficiorum aderat : stultissi- 
mus quisque pecuniis mercebatur : apnd sapientes cassa 
habebantur, quae neque dari, neque accipi, salva Republica, 
poterant. Tandem flagitante exercitu, qui Mevaniam in- 
sederat, magno Senatorum agmine, quorum multos ambi- 
tione, plures formidine trahebat, in castra venit, incertus 
animi, et infidis consiliis obnoxius. 

LVL Concionanti (prodigiosum dictu) tantum foedarum 
volucrum supervolitavit, ut nube atra diem obtenderent. Ac- 
cessit dirum omen, profugus altaribus taurus, disjecto sacrificii 
adparatu, longe, nee, ubi feriri hostias mos est, confossus, 
Sed praecipuum ipse Vitellius ostentum erat, ignarus mili- 
tias, inprovidus consilii, * quis ordo agminis, quae cura ex- 
plorandi, quantus urgendo trahendove bello modus,' alios 
Togitans, et ad omnes nuntios, vultu quoque et incessu tre- 
pidus, deintemulentus. Postremo taedio castrorum, et, au- 
dita defectione Misenensis classis, Romam revertit, recen- 
tissimum quodque vulnus pavens, summi discriminis incu- 
riosus. Nam, cum transgredi Apenninum. integro exerci- 
tus sui robore, et fessos hieme atque inopia hostes adgredi, 
in aperto foret; dum dispergit vires, acerrimum militem, et 
usque in extrema obstinatum, trucidandum capiendumque 
tradidit, peritissimis Centurionum dissentientibus, et, si 
consulerentur, vera dicturis. Arcuere eos intimi amico- 
rum Vitellii, ita formatis Principis auribus, ut aspere, quae 
utilia, nee quidquam, nisi jucundum et laesurum, acciperet. 
LVIT. Sed elassem Misenensem (tantum civilibus discor- 
diis etiam singulorum audacia valet) Claudius Faventinus, 
Centurio, per ignominiam a G:\lba dimissus, ad defectionem 
traxit, fictis Vespasiani epistolis pretium proditionis osten- 
tans. Praeeratclassi Claudius Apollinaris, neque fidei con- 
stans, neque strenuus in perfidia : et Apinius Tiro, Praetu- 
ra functus, ac turn forte Minturnis (e) agens, ducem se de- 
fectoribus obtulit : a quibus municipia coloniaeque inpulsae, 
praecipuo Puteolanorum in Vespasianum studia. contra Ca- 



d For an account of the privileges conferred by thejics civitatis, jus 
Latii and jus Ilalicum, see Adams' Roman Antiquities, p. 72, 74. 

e Minturnae was a town on the confines of Campania near the river 
Lirisi 



132 



C. CORN. TACITL 



a. u. c. 822, 



pua Vitellio fida, municipalem asmulationem bellis civilibus 
miscebant. Vitellius Claudium Julianum (is nuper clas- 
sem Misenensem molli imperio rexerat) permulcendis mi- 
litwm animis delegit : data in auxilium urbana cohors et gla~ 
diatores, quibus Julianus praeerat. Ut conlata utrimque 
castra, haud magna cunctatione Juliano in partes Yespasiani 
transgresso, Tarracinam occupavere, moenibus situque ma- 
gis, quam ipsorum ingenio tutam. 

LVIII. Quae ubi Vitellio cognita, parte copiarum Nar- 
niae (/) cum Praefectis Praetorii relicta, L. Vitellium fra- 
trem, cum sex cohortibus et quingentis equitibus, ingruenti 
per Campaniam bello opposuit. Ipse aeger animi, studiis 
militum etclamoribus populi, arma poscentis, refovebatur : 
dum vulgu3 ignavum, et nihil ultra verba ausurum, falsa spe- 
cie ' exercitum' et ' legiones' adpellat. Hortantibus liber- 
tis (nam amicornm ejus quanto quis clarior, minus fidus) 
* vocari tribus' jubet. D antes nomina sacramento adigit : 
superfluente multitudine, curam delectus in Consules par- 
titur. Servorum numerum et pondus argenti Senatoribus 
indicit. Equites Romani obtulere operam pecuniasque* 
etiam libertinis idem munus ultro flagitantibus. Ea simula- 
tio officii, a metu profecta, verterat in favorem. (g) Et 
plerique baud perinde Vitellium, quam casum locumque 
rrincipatus, miserabantur : nee deerat ipse : vultu, voce 3 
lacrimis, misericordiam elicere : largus promissis, et, quae 
natura trepidantium est, inmodicus. Quin et ' Caesarem 5 
se dici voluit, adspernatus antea: sed tunc, superstitione 
nominis, et quia in metu consilia prudentium et vulgi rumor 
juxta audiuntur. Ceterum, ut omnia inconsulti inpetus 
coepta, initiis valida, spatio languescunt, dilabi paullatim Se- 
natores Equitesque, primo cunctanter, et, ubi ipse non ade- 
rat, mox contemptim et sine discrimine ; donee Vitellius 
pudore inriti conatus, quas non dabantur. remisit. 

LIX. Ut terrorem Italiae possessa Mevania, (h) ac velut 
renatum ex integro bellum, intulerat: ita haud dubium erga 
Flavianas partes studium tarn pavidus Vitellii discessus ad~ 



/ Narnia, a town of Umbria on the river Nar ; now Narni in the 
territory of the Pope. 

g Ea simulatio officii, a metu profecta, verterat in favoreni. This 
pretence of friendship or fidelity, which originated in fear, at length 
became real ardour. 

h Mevania, a town of Umbria near the Clitumnus. a river thV 
runs west into the Tiber, 



* c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERT1US. 133 

didit. Erectus Samnis Pelignusque et Marsi (t) aemulatio- 
ne, quod Campania praevenisset, ut in novo ©bsequio, ad 
cuncta belli munia acres erant. Sed fceda hieme, per tran- 
situm Apennini conflictatus exercitus, et vix quieto agmine 
nives eluctantibus, patuit, quantum discriminis adeundum 
foret, niVitellium retro Fortuna vertisset: quae Flavianis 
Ducibus non minus saepe, quam ratio, adfuit. Obvium illic 
Petilium Cerialem habuere, agresti cultu et notitia locorum 
custodias Vitellii elapsum. Propinqua adfinitas Ceriali cum 
Vespasiano, nee ipse inglorius militias : eoque inter duces 
adsumptus est. Flavio quoque Sabino ac Domitiano patu- 
isse effugium, multi tradidere. Et missi ab Antonio nuntii 
per varias fallendi artes penetrabant, locum ac praesidium 
monstrantes. Sabinus inhabilem labori et audaciae valetu- 
dinem caussabatur : Domitiano aderat animus ; sed custodes 
a Vitellio additi, quamquam se socios fugae promitterent, 
tamqaam insidiantes timebantur. Atque ipse Vitellius, res- 
pectu suarum necessitudinum, nihil in Domitianum atrox pa- 
rabat. 

LX. Duces partium ut Carsulas (J) venere, paucos ad 
requiem dies sumunt, donee aquilae signaque legionum ad- 
sequerentur : et locus ipse castrorum placebat, late pros- 
pectans : tuto copiarum adgestu : florentissimis pone ter- 
gum municipiis : simul conloquia cum Vitellianis, decern 
millium spatio distantibus, et proditio sperabatur. JEgre 
id pati miles, et victoriam malle, quam pacem : ne suas qui^ 
dem legiones opperiebantur, ut praedae, quam periculorum 
(k) socias. Vocatos ad concionem Antonius docuit : c esse 
1 adhuc Vitellio vires, ambiguas, si deliberarent ; acres, si 
4 desperassent. Initia bellorum civilium fortunse permit- 

* tenda; victoriam consiliis et ratione perfici. Jam Mise 

* nensem classem et pulcherrimam Campanias orara desci 

1 visse : nee plus e toto terrarum orbe reliquum Vitellio, 
1 quam quod inter Tarracinam Narniamque jaceat. Satis 

* glorise proelio CremOnensi partum, et exitio Cremonae ni 

' mium invidiam : ne concupiscerent Romam capere potius, 

i Samnis, or Samnites, a people' of Ancient Italy, dwelling on both 
sides of the Apennine, famous in the Roman wars. Peligni, a people 
of Italy, who dwelt near the Sabines and Marsi. Marsi, a people who 
dwelt round the Lacus Futinus. 

j Carsulae, a town of Umbria ; now in ruins. 

k Pr&da, quam periculorum. Supply potius, This mode of eX- 
nression ia frequently found in Tacitus. 

13* 



e 



134 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. v. c. 82£. 

* quam servare : majora illis praemia, et multo maximum 

* decus, si incolumitatem Senatui Populoque Romani sine 

* sanguine quaesissent.' 

LXI. His ac talibus mitigati animi. Nee multo post le- 
giones venere. Et terrore famaque aucti exercitus Vitei- 
lianae cohortes nutabant, nullo in bellum adhortante, multis 
ad transitionem, qui suas centurias turmasque tradere, do- 
num victori, et sibi in posterum gratiam, certabant. Per 
eos cognitum est, ' Interamnam (/) proximis campis praesi- 
; dio quadringentorum equitum teneri.' Missus extemplo 
Varus, cum expedita manuj paucos repugnantium interfe- 
cit : plures, abjectis armis, veniam petivere : quid am in 
castra refugi, cuncta formidine inplebant, augendo rumori- 
bus virtutem copiasque hostium, quo amissi praesidii dede- 
cus lenirent. Nee ulla apud Vitellianos flagitii poena : et 
praemiis defectorum versa fides, (m) ac reliquum perfidiae 
certamen : crebra transfugia Tribunorum Centurionumque : 
nam gregarius miles induruerat pro Viteffio : donee Priscus 
t Alpbenus, desertis castris, ad Vitellium regressi, pudore 
proditionis cunctos exsolverent. 

LXII. Iisdem diebus Fabius Valens Urbini (n) in cus- 
todia interficitur. Caput ejus Vitellianis cohortibus osten- 
utum, ne quam ultra spem foverent : nam, ■ pervasisse in 
1 Germanias Valentem, et veteres illic novosque exercitus 

* ciere,' credebant. Visa caede in desperationem versi : et 
Flavianus exercitus, inmane quantum (o) animo exitium 
Valentis, ut finem belli, accepit. Natus erat Valens Anag- 
niae, Equestri familiae : procax moribus, neque absurdus in- 
genio, famam urbanitatis per lasciviam petere. Ludicro 
iuvenalium sub Nerone, velut ex necessitate, mox sponte, 
niimos actitavit, scite magis quam probe. Legatus legionis 
et fovit Virginium et infamavit. Fcnteium Capitonem (j?) 
conruptum, seu quia conrumpere nequiverat, interfecit. 
Galbae proditor : Vitellio fidus et aliorum perfidia in- 
lustratus. 

1 Interamna, an ancient town of the Volsci in Latium, not far from 
the river. Linis. It is now in ruins. 

m Versa fides* Ernestus supposes the text should be eerta fides. 

n Urbinum, now Urbino, a city famous for having given birth to 
the celebrated painter Raphael. 

o Inmane quantum. A greek idiom for summo opere, mirum in 
modum. See Horace, vino et lucernis Mtdus acinaces Inmane quan- 
tum discrepat. 

p Fonteium Capitonem— interfecit. See Hist. i..T. 



j.c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 135 

LXIII. Abrupta undique spe, Vitellianus miles, transitu- 
rus in partes, id quoque non sine dedecore, (9) sed sub 
signis vexillisque in subjectos Narniae campos descendere. 
Flavianus exercitus, ut ad proelium, intentus ornatusque, 
densis circa viam ordinibus, adstiterat. Accepti in medium 
Vitelliani : et circumdatos Primus Antonius clementer ad- 
loquitur : ' pars Narniae, pars Interamnae subsistere' jussi : 
relictae simul e victricibus legiones, neque quiescentibus 
graves, et adversus contumaciam validae. Non omisere per 
eos dies Primus ac Varus, crebris nuntiis ■ salutem et pe- 
' cuniam et secreta Campaniae' (r) offerre Vitellio, ' si, 
' positis armis, seque ac liberos suos Vespasiano permisisset.' 
In eundem modum et Mucianus composuit epistolas : quibus 
plerumque fidere Vitellius, ac 6 de numero servorum, elec- 
6 tione litorum,' loqui. Tanta torpedo invaserat animum, 
ut, si Principem eum fuisse ceteri non meminissent, ipse 
oblivisceretur. 

LXIV. At primores civitatis FJavium Sabinum, Praefec- 
tum urbis, secretis sermonibus incitabant, ' victoriae famae- 

* que partem capesseret : esse illi proprium militem cohor- 
' tium urbanarum : nee defuturas vigilum cohortes, servitia 

* ipsorum, fortunam partium, et omnia prona victoribus : ne 

* Antonio Varoque de gloria concederet. Paucas Vitellio 
' cohortes, et maestis undique nuntiis trepidas : populi mo- 
1 bilem animum : et, si se ducem praebuisset, easdem illas 
4 adulationes pro Vespasiano fore. Ipsum Vitellium ne 
4 prosperis quidem parem : adeo ruentibus debilitatum. 

* Gratiam patrati belli penes eum, qui urbem occupasset. 
1 Id Sabino convenire, ut Imperium fratri reservaret ; id 
4 Vespasiano, ut ceteri post Sabinum haberentur.' 

LXV. Haudquaquam erecto animo eas voces accipiebat, 
invalidus senecta. Erant, qui cccultis suspicionibus inces- 
serent, tamquam | invidia et aemulatione fortunam fratris 
' moraretur.' Namque Flavius Sabinus, eetate prior, pri~ 
vatis utri usque rebus, auctoritate pecuniaque Vespasianum 
anteibat. Et credebatur adfectam ejus fidem praejuvisse, 
domo agrisque pignori acceptis. Unde, quamquam manen- 
te in speciem concordia, offensarum operta metuebantur. 
Melior interpretatio : ' mitem virum abhorrere a sanguine 

* et caedibus : eoque crebris cum Vitellio sermonibus de 

q Id quoque non sine dedecore, Supply/ecer^. 
r Campania. See this book. i. s, 23. Note £, 



136 L\" CORN. TACIT1. a. v. c. 822. 

* pace, ponendisque per conditionem armis, agitare." Sae- 
pe domi congressi, postremo in aede Apollinis, (s) ut fama 
fuit, pepigere. Verba vocesque duos testes habebant, 
Cluvium Rufum et Silium Italicum. (t) Vultus procul vi- 
sentibus notabantur : Vitellii projectus et degener ; Sabi- 
nus non insultans et miseranti propior. 

LXVI. Quod si tarn facile suorum mentes flexisset Vitel- 
lius, quam ipse cesserat, incruentam urbem Vespasiani ex- 
ercitus intrasset. Ceterum, ut quisque Vitellio fidus, ita 
pacem et conditiones abnuebant, t discrimen ac dedecus' 
ostentantes, ' et fidem in libidine victoris. Nee tantam 
1 Vespasiano superbiam, ut privatum Vitellium pateretur : 

< ne victos quidem laturos. Tta periculum ex misericor- 

* dia. (u) Ipsum sane senem, et piosperis adversisque sa- 

< tiatum. Sed quod nomen, quem statum filio ejus, Germa- 
5 nico, fore ? Nunc pecuniam et familiam et beatos Campa- 
5 niae sinus promitti : sed, ubi Imperium Vespasianus in- 
4 vaserit, non ipsi, non amicis ejus, non denique exercitibus 

* securitatem, nisi exstincto aemulatu, redituram. Fabium 
$ illis Valentem, captivum et casibus dubiis reservatum> 

* praegravem fuisse : nedum Primus ac Fuscus et specimen 

* partium Mucianus, ullam in Vitellium, nisi occidendi, li- 
« centiam habeant. Non a Caesare Pompeium, non ab Au- 

* gusto Antonium incolumes relictos : nisi forte Vespasianus 

* altiores spiritus gerat, Vitellii cliens, cum Vitellius conle- 
4 ga Claudio foret. (i?) Quin, ut censuram patris, ut tres 
'* Consulatus, ut tot egregiae demus konores deceret, des- 

* peratione saltern in audaciam aecingeretur : perstare mili- 

$ The temple of Apollo was on mount Palatine, where Augustus 
formed a library. Horace says, Scripta Palatinus quozcumque rece- 
pit Apollo. 

t That an agreement was made between Vitellius and Flavius Se- 
binus, the brother of Vespasian, appears in Suetonius, in Vit. s. 15. 
Cluvius Rufus had been governor of a province in Spain ; a man of 
great eloquence but void of military talents. See Hist. i. s. 8. 

u Periculum ex misericordia. If Vespasian suffered Vitellius to 
survive his grandeur and live a private citizen, men would ascribe it 
to pride and arrogance, and the vanquished would not submit to see 
their emperor a living reproach to their whole party ; and, conse- 
quently, Vitellius would be in danger from the commiseration of his, 
friends. 

v Vitellius had great weight and influence in the reign of Claudius. 
Vespasian, at that time, paid his court to the favourite, and also to 
Narcissus the emperor's freedman. See Suet, in Vesp. s. 4. 



Ji c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 137 

4 tern, superesse studia populi. Denique nihil atrocius 
' eventurum, quam in quod sponteruant: moriendum vic- 
f tis, moriendum deditis : id solum referre, novissimum spi- 
4 ritum per ludibrium et contumelias effundant, an per vir- 
• tutem.' 

LXVII. Surdae ad fortia consilia Vitellio aures. Obrue* 
batur animus miseratione curaque, ne, pertinacibus armis, 
minus placabilem victorem relinqueret conjugi ac liberis. 
Erat illi et fessa aetate parens ; quae tamen, paucis ante die- 
bus, opportuna morte excidium domus praevenit, nihil Prin- 
cipatu filii adsecuta, nisi luctum et bonam famam. Quinto- 
decimo Kalendas Januarii (w) audita defectione legionis co- 
hortiumque, quae se Narniae dediderant, pullo amictu pala- 
tio degreditur, maesta circum familia. (a;) Simul ferebatur 
lecticula parvulus filius, velut in funebrem pompam. Vo- 
ces populi blandae et intempestivae : miles minaci silentio. 

LXVIII. Nee quisquam adeo rerum humanarum inme- 
mor, quern non commoveret ilia facies : Romanum Princi- 
pem, et generis humani paullo ante dominum, relicta fortu- 
naB suae sede, perpopulum, per urbem, exire de Imperio. 
Nihil tale viderant, nihil audierant : repentina vis Dictato- 
rem Caesarem oppresserat ; occultae Caium insidiae : nox 
et ignotum rus fugam Neronis absconderant : Piso et Galba 
tamquam in acie cecidere : in sua concione Vitellius, inter 
suos milites, prospectantibus etiam feminis, pauca et prae- 
senti maestitiae congruentia locutus : c cedere se pacis et 
c Reipublicae casssa : retinerent tantum memoriam sui fra- 
- tremque etconjugem et innoxiam liberorum aetatemmise- 
' rarentur;' simul filium protendens, modo singulis, modo 
universis commendans, postremo fletu praepediente, adsis- 
tenti Consuli (y) (Caecilius Simplex erat) exsolutum a late- 
re pugionem, velut jus necis vitaeque civium, reddebat. 
Adspernante Consule, reclamantibus, qui in concione ad= 



io Vitellius abdicated on the 18th of December, A. U. C. 822, after 
a few months of anarchy, plunder and massacre. 

x Juvenal describes this scene ; but, according to him, Sextilia, 
the mother of Vitellius was one of the melancholy train. Tacitus 
says she did not live to see the sad catastrophe. 

y We have seen that Caecilius Simplex was impatient to arrive at 
the consular dignity, insomuch that he was accused in the Senate of a 
design to purchase it, in the room of Marius Celsus. He did not suc- 
ceed, but Vitellius afterwards gratified his ambition without a bribe, 
Hist. ii. s, 60. 



i3 * C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822. 

stiterant, ut in aede ConcordiaB (z) positurus insignia Impe- 
rii, domumque fratris petiturus, discessit. Major hie cla- 
mor obsistentium Penatibus privatis, * inpalatium' vocan- 
tium. Interclusum aliud iter, idque solum, quod in Sacram 
viam pergeret, patebat : turn consilii inops, in palatium re- 
diit. Pra^venerat rumor, ' ejurari ab eo Imperium :' 
scripseratque Flavius Sabinus cohortium Tribunis, ' iitmi- 
c litem cohiberent' 

LXIX. Igitur, tamquam omnis Respublica in Vespasian! 
smum cessisset, primores Senatus et plerique Equestris or- 
dinis omnisque miles urbanus et vigiles domum Flavii Sabi- 
ni complevere : illic de studiis vulgi et minis Germanicarum 
cohortium adfertur. Longius jam progressus erat, quamut 
regredi posset : et suo quisque metu, ne disjectos, eoque 
minus validos, Vitelliani consectarentur, cunctantem in arma 
inpellebant. Sed, quod in ejusmodi rebus accidit, consili- 
um ab omnibus datum est, periculum pauci sumpsere. Cir- 
ca lacum Fundani, (a) descendentibus, qui Sabinum comita- 
bantur, armatis occurrunt promptissimi Vitellianorum. Mo- 
aicum ibi proelium, inproviso tumultu, sed prosperum Vitel- 
iiams fuit. Sabinus, re trepida, quod tutissimum e praesen- 
tibus, arcem capitoiii insedit milite et quibusdam Senatorum 
Equitumque : quorum nomina tradere haud promptum est, 
quoniam, victore Vespasiano, multi id meritum erga partes 
siimilavere. Subierunt obsidium etiam feminae ; inter quas 
maxime insignis Verulana Gratilla, neque liberos, neque 
propinquos, sed bellum secuta. Vitellianus miles custodia 
socordi clausos circumdedit ; eoque, concubia nocte, suos 
liberos Sabinus et Domitianum, fratris filium, in capitolium 
accivit : misso per neglecta ad Flavianos duces nuntio, qui, 
6 circumsideri ipsos, et, ni subveniretur, arctas res' nuncia- 
ret. Noetem adeo quietam egit, ut degredi sine noxa po- 
tuerit : quippe miles Vitellii, adversus pericula ferox, labo- 
ribus et vigiliis parum intentus erat : et hibernus imber^ 
repente fusus, oculos auresque inpediebat 

& The temple of Concord was burnt to the ground in the fire of the 
Capitol related hereafter in this book, s. 71. Brotier says it was af- 
terwards rebuilt. 

a A Fundane lake, now called, Lago di Fundi, is mentioned by 
Pliny, book iii. s. 5. But the lake now in question was in the city of 
Rome near the mons Quirinalis. Brotier says there were at least a 
thousand of those lakes at Rome, which ought more properly to fce 
called fountains, 



J. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 139 

LXX. Luce prima Sabinus, antequam invicem hostilia 
coeptarent, Cornelium Martialem, e primipilaribus, ad Vi- 
tellium misit, cum c mandatis et questu, quod pacta turbaren- 
' tur. Simulationem prorsus et imaginem deponendi Im- 
; perii fuisse, ad decipiendos tot inlustres viros. Cur enim 

* e rostris fratris domum, inminentemforo, et inritandis ho- 

* minum oculis, quam Aventinum et Penates uxoris petis- 

* set ? Ita privato, et omnem Principatus speciem vitanti, 
i convenisse. Contra Vitellium in palatium, in ipsam Im- 
' perii arcem regressum : inde armatum agmen emissum : 

* stratam innocentium caedibus celeberrimam urbis partem : 
' ne capitoiio quidem abstineri. Togatum nempe se, et 
' unum e Senatoribus, dum inter Vespasianum ac Vitellium 
' proeliis legionum, captivitatibus orbium, deditionibus co- 
1 hortium judicatur, jam, Hispaniis Germaniisque et Britan- 
' nia desciscentibus, fratrem Vespasiani mansisse in fide, do- 
' nee ultro ad conditiones vocaretur. Pacem et concordi- 
c am victis utilia ; victoribus tantum pulchra esse. Si con- 
' ventionis poeniteat, non se, quern perfidia deceperit, ferro 

* peteret, nonfiliam Vespasiani, vix puberem : (b) quantum, 
" occicis uno sene et uno juvene, profici ? iret obviam le- 
4 gionibus : et de summa rerum illic certaret : cetera se- 
4 cundum eventum prcelii cessura.' Trepidus ad haec Vi- 
tellius pauca purgandi sui caussa respondit, culpam ' in mi- 
litem' conferens, w cujus nimio ardori inparem esse modes- 
£ tiam suam.' Et monuit Martialem, ' ut per secretam aedi- 
' um partem occulte abiret, ne a militibus internuntius invi^ 
v sae pacis interficeretur :' ipse neque jubendi neque ve- 
tandi potens, non jam Imperator, sed tantum belli caussa, 
erat. 

LXXI. Vixdum regresso in capitolium Martiale, furens 
miles aderat, nullo duce ; sibi quisque auctor : cito agmine 
forum et inminentia foro templa (c) praetervecti erigunt 
aciem per adversum collem, usque ad primas capitolinae 
arcis fores. Erant antiquitus porticus in latere clivi, dex- 
tras subeuntibus : in quarum tectum egressi saxis tegulisque 
Vitellianos obruebant. Neque illis manus, nisi gladiis, ar- 
matae : et arcessere tormenta> aut missilia tela, longum vi- 

b Domitian, who was born on the 9th of the Calends of November, 
or the 24th of October, A. U. C. 814. Suet, in Domit. s. 1. 

c The Forum was surrounded by a number of temples, such as the 
temple of Fortune, of Jupiter Tonans, of Saturn, the temple of Con- 
cord and several others. 



140 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 822, 

debatur : faces in prominentem porticum jecere : et seque- 
bantur ignem ; ambustasque capitolii fores penetrassent, ni 
Sabinus revulsas undique statuas, decora majorum, in ipso 
aditu, vice muri, objecisset. Turn diversos capitolii aditus 
invadunt,juxta lucum asyli, et quaTarpeia rupes (d) cen- 
tum gradibus aditur. Inprovisa utraque vis ; propior at- 
que acrior per asylum ingruebat : nee sisti poterant scan- 
dentes per conjuncta aedificia: quae, ut in multa pace, in 
altum edita, solum capitolii aequabant. Hie ambigitur, ig- 
nem tectis oppugnatores injecerint, an obsessi, quae crebrior 
fama est, quo nitentes ac progressos depellerent. Inde lap- 
sus ignis in porticus adpositas aedibus : mox sustinentes fas- 
tigium Aquilae (e) vetere ligno traxerunt flammam aluerunt- 
que. Sic capitolium, clausis foribus, indefensum et indirep- 
tum, conflagravit. -- 

LXXII. Id facinus post conditam urbem luctuosissimum 
foedissimumque Reipublicae Populi Romani accidit : nullo 
externo hoste, propitiis, si per mores nostros liceret, Deis, 
sedem Jovis optimi, maximi, auspicato a majoribus, pignus 
Imperii, (/) conditam, quam non Porsena dedita urbe, ne- 
que Galli capta, (g) temerare potuissent, furore Principum 
exscindi 1 Arserat et ante capitolium civili bello, (h) sed 
fraude privata ; nunc palam obsessum, palam incensum : 
quibus armorum caussis ? quo tantae cladis pretio stetit ? 
pro patria bellavimus ? Voverat Tarquinius Priscus Rex, 



d The Lucus Asyli was so called, because it was made a sanctuary 
by Romulus to invite a conflux of foreigners to his new state. It was 
between the two rocks of the Capitoline Hill, on one of which was 
built the temple of Jupiter Capotilinus, on the other the temple of 
Feretrian Jove. The Tarpeian rock, with its hundred steps, was on 
the west side of the Capitoline Hill ; and from that eminence malefac- 
tors were thrown headlong into the Tiber. 

e Aquilae. A set of pillars so called. 

/ When Tarquinius Superb us was laying the foundation of a tem- 
ple, the men employed in digging the ground, found a human skull ; 
and this was interpreted to "be the pledge pf empire, an auspicious 
omen that Rome would become the mistress of the world. 

g It is not strictly true that Porsenna became master of the city. 
He was at the gates, but, instead of advancing, he received hostages 
and raised the siege. Florus, book i. c. 10. The city was taken by 
the Gauls, A. U. C. 364. 

h In the civil war between Sylla and Marius, Ihe Capitol was de- 
stroyed by fire, A. U. C. 671, and the Sybylline books perished in the 
flames. The conflagration was not occasioned by any open act of vio- 
lence, but rather by the hands of clandestine incendiaries. 



J. n. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 141 

bello Sabino, jeceratque fundamenta, spe magis futurae 
magnitudinis, quam quo modicae adhuc Populi Romani res 
sufficerent: mox Servius Tullius, sociorum studio ; deinde 
Tarquinius Superbus, capta Suessa Pomostia, hostium spo- 
liis exstruxere. Sed gloria operis Jibertati reservata : pul- 
sis Regibus, Horatius Pulvillus, iterum Consul, dedicavit; 
ea magnificentia, quam inmensae postea Populi Romani opes 
ornarent potius, quam augerent. lisdem rursus vestigiis 
situm est, postquam, interjecto ccccxxv. annorum spa- 
do, L. Scipione, C. Norbano consulibus flagraverat. Cu- 
ram victor Sulla suscepit, neque tamen dedicavit : hoc so- 
lum felicitati ejus negatum. Lutatii Catuli nomen, inter 
tanta Caesarum opera usque ad Vitellium mansit. Ea tunc 
aedes cremabatur. 

LXXIII. Sed plus pavoris obsessis, quam obsessoribus 
intulit. Quippe Vitellianus miles, neque astu, neque con- 
stantia, inter dubia indigebat. Ex diverso trepidi milites, 
dux segnis et veluti captus animi, non lingua, non auribus 
competere : neque alienis consiliis regi, neque sua expe- 
dire : hue illuc clamoribus hostium circumagi : quae jusse- 
rat, vetare, quae vetuerat, jubere. Mox, quod in perditis 
rebus accidit, omnes praecipere, nemo exsequi : postremo* 
abjectis armis, fugam et fallendi artes circumspectabant. 
Inrumpunt Vitelliani et cuncta sanguine, ferro, flammisque 
miscent. Pauci militarisms virorum, inter quosmaxime in- 
signes, Cornelius Martialis, jEmilius Pacensis, Casperius 
Niger, Didius Scaeva, pugnam ausi, obtruncantur. Flavi- 
urn Sabinum, inermem neque fugam coeptantem, circumsis- 
tunt, et Quinctium Atticum^ (t) Consulem, umbra honoris et 
suamet vanitate monstratum, quod edicta in populum, pro 
Vespasiano magnifica, probrosa adversus Vitellium, jecerat, 
Ceteri per varios casus elapsi : quidam servili habitu, alii 
fideclientiumcontecti, et inter sarcinas abditi. Fuere, qui, 
excepto Vitellianorum signo, quo inter se noscebantur, ul- 
tro rogitantes respondentesve, audaciam pro latebra ha- 
berent. 

LXXIV. Domitianus, prima inruptione apud aedituuro 
occultatus, sollertia liberti, lineo amictu turbae sacricolarum 
inmixtus ignoratusque, apud Cornelium Primum, paternum 
clientem, juxta Velabmm, delituit. Ac potiente rerum pa- 

i Quinctius Atticus and Alienus and Csecina were consuls from the 
first of November to the end of the year* 

14 



142 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. &£2> 

tre, disjecto aeditui contubernio, modicum sacellum jovi 
conservatory aramque posuit, casusque suos in marmore 
expressam (j) Mox, Imperium adeptus, jovi custodi 
templumingens, seque in sinu Dei sacravit. Sabinus et At- 
ticus, onerati catenis et ad Vitellium ducti, nequaquam in- 
festo sermone vultuque excipiuntur, frementibus, qui jus 
caedis, et praemia navatae operae, petebant. Clamore a 
proximis orto, sordidapars plebis supplicium Sabini expos 
cit, minas adulationesque miscet. Stan tern pro gradibus pa- 
latii Vitellium, et preces parantem, pervicere, ut absisteret. 
Turn confossum conlaceratumque, et capite truncum, cor- 
pus Sabini in Gemonias trahunt. Hie exitus viri haud sane 
spernendi. 

LXXV. Quinque et triginta stipendia in Republica fece- 
rat, domi militiaeque clarus : innocentiam jus.titianique ejus 
non argueres : sermonis nimius erat. Id wnum septem an- 
nis, quibus Mcesiam, duodecim, quibus Praefecturam urbis 
obtinuit, calumniatus est rumor. In fine vitas aliisegnem, 
multi moderafum et civium sanguinis parcum credidere. 
Quod inter omnes constiterit, ante principatum Vespasiani, 
decus domus penes Sabinum erat. Caedem ejus laetam fu~ 
isse Muciano accepimus. Ferebant plerique, 6 etiam paci 
4 eonsultum, dirempta aemulatione inter duos, quorum alter 
4 se fratrem Imperatoris, alter consortem Imperii cogitaret/ 
Sed Vitellius Consulis supplicium poscenti populo res- 
titit, placatus, ac velut vicem reddens, quod interrogantibus, 
' quis capitolium incendisset,' se reum Atticus obtulerat. 
Eaque confessione, sive aptum tempori mendacium fuit, in- 
vidiam crimenque agnovisse, et apartibus Vitellii amolitus, 
yidebatur. 

LXXVI. Isdem diebus L. Vitellius, positis apud Feroniam 
oastris, excidio Tarracinas inminebat : clausisillic gladiato- 
ribus remigibusque, qui non egredi mcenia, neque periculum 
in aperto audebant. Praeerat, ut supra memoravimus, Julia- 
nus gladiatoribus, Apollinaris remigibus : lascivia socordia- 
que gladiatorum magis, quam Ducum similes, non vigilias 
agere, non intuta moenium firmare, noctu dieque fluxi et 
amoena litorum personantes, in ministerium luxus dispersis 
militibus, de bello tantum inter convivia loquebantur. Pau- 
cos ante dies discesserat Apinius Tiro : donisque ac pecu- 

j Aramque posuit — expressam. And erected a marble altar, on 
which the story of his escape was engraved. 



j.c. 69. I1IST0R. LIB. TERTIUS. 143 

niis acerbe per municipia conquirendis, plus invidiae quam 
virium partibus addebat. 

LXXVII. Interim ad L. Vitellium servus Verginii Capi- 
tonisperfugit,pollicitusque, ' si praesidium acciperet, vacuam 
4 arcem tradi futurum,' multa nocte cohortes expeditas, 
summis montium jugis, super caput hostium sistit : inde mi- 
les ad caedem magis, quam ad pugnam decurrit : sternunt in- 
ermes, aut arma capientes,et quosdam somno excitos ; cum 
tenebris^ pavore, sonitu tubarum, clamore hostili turbaren- 
tur. Pauci gladiatorum resistentes, neque inulti cecidere : 
ceteri ad naves ruebant, ubi cuncta pari formidine inplica- 
bantur, permixtis paganis, quos nullo discrimine Vitelliani 
trucidabant Sex libumicae inter primum tumultum eva- 
sere, in quis Prsefectus classis Apollinaris : reliquae in li- 
tore captae, nut nimio ruentium onere pressas mare hausit. 
Julianus ad L. Vitellium perductus, et verberibus foedatus, 
in ore ejus jugulatur. Fuere, quiuxorem L. Vitellii Tria- 
riam incesserent, tamquam ■ gladio militari cincta, inter luc- 
' turn cladesque expugnatae Tarracinas, superbe saeveque 
{ egisset.' Ipse lauream gestae prospere rei (A:) adfratrem 
misit: percunctatus, ' statim regredi se, an perdomandae 

4 Campaniae insistere juberet. 5 Quod salutare non modo 
partibus Vespasiani, sed Reipublicae fuit: nam, si recens 
victoria miles, et, super insitam pervicaciam, secundis fe- 
rox, Romam contendisset ; haud parva mole certatum, nee 
sine exitio urbis, foret : quippe L. Vitellio, quamvis infami, 
inerat industria : nee virtutibus, ut boni, sed, quo modo 
pessimus quisque, vitiis valebat. 

LXXVIIL Dum haec in partibus Vitellii geruntur, di- 
gressus Narnia Vespasiani exercitus, festos Saturni dies 
Ocriculi (/) per otium agitabat. Caussa jam pravae merae, 
ut Mucianum opperirentur. Nee defuere, qui Antonium 
suspicionibus arguerent, tamquam ( dolo cunctantem, post 

5 secretas Vitellii epistolas, quibus Consulatum et nobilem 
' filiam et dotales opes, pretium proditionis. oiferebat. 
' Alii, fictahaec et ingratiam Muciani composita.' Quidam, 
- omnium id Ducum consilium fuisse, ostentare potius urbi 
• bellum, quam inferre : quando validissimae cohortes a Vi- 



k Lauream gestat prospere rei. It was customary to announce a 
victory to the senate or the emperor in a letter bound with laurel. 

I Ocriculum, a town of Umbria, near the confluence of the Nar and 
the Tiber : now Olricoli, in the duchy of Spoletto. 



J44 C. CORN, TACITI. a. u. c> 822. 

? tellio descivissent, et, abscisis omnibus prsesidiis, cessurus 

* Imperio videbatur. Sed cuncta festinatione, deinde igna- 
4 via Sabini, conrupta : qui sumptis temere armis, munUis- 

* simam capitolii arcem, et ne raagnis quidem exercitibirs 
4 expugnabilem, adversus tres cohortes tueri nequivisset.' 
Haud facile quis uni adsignaverit culpam, quae omnium fait : 
nam et Mucianus ambiguis epistolis victores morabatur, et 
Antonius praepostero obsequio, vel, dum regerit invidiam, 
(wi) crimen meruit : ceterique duces, dam peractam bellum 
putant, finem ejus insignivere. Ne Petilius quidem Ceria- 
lis, cum mille equitibus praemissus, ut transversis itineribu& 
per agrum Sabinum Salaria via (n) urbem introiret, satis ma- 
turaverat : donee obsessi capitolii fama cunctos simul ex~ 
ciret. 

LXXIX. Antonius per Flaminiam ad Saxa rubra, (o) 
multo jam noctis* serum auxilium venit. Illic * interfectum 
1 Sabinum, confiagrasse capitolium, tremere urbem,' maesta 
omnia accepit : ' plebem quoque et servitia pro Vitellio ar- 
4 mari, 5 nuntiabatur. Et Petiiio Ceriali equestre proelium 
adversum fuerat : namque incautum, et tamquam ad victor 
ruentem, Vitelliani^ interjectus equiti pedes, excepere i 
pugnatum haud procul urbe, inter a?dificia hortosque et an- 
fractus viarum : quag gnara Vitellianis, incomperta hostibus, 
metum fecerant : neque emnis eques concors, adjunctis 
quibusdam, qui nuper apud Narniam dediti, fortunam par- 
tium speculabantur ; eapitur Praefectus alae, Tullius Flavia- 
nus : ceteri foeda fuga? consternantur, non ultra Fidenas (p) 
secutis victoribus. 

LXXX. Eo successu studia populi aueta : vulgus urba- 
num arma cepit. Paucis scuta militaria, plures, raptis, 
quod cuique abvium, telis, * signum pugnae' exposcunt. 
Agit grates Vitellius, et * ad tuendam urbem prorumpere* 
jubet. Mox, vocato Senatu, deliguntur legati ad exercitus^ 
ut praetexto Reipublicae concordiam pacemque suaderent. 
Varia legatorum sors fuit. Qui Petilio Ceriali occurrerant, 



m Vtl, dum regerit invidiam. Or that he might transfer the odium 
from himself to Mucianus. 

n Via Salaria, a road leading from the salt-works at Ostia to the 
country of the Sabines. 

o Saxa Rubra, a place on the Flamminian road in Etruria, nine 
miles from Rome. 

p FidenaB, a small town in the territory of the SaJbines about six 
miles north of Rome 



J. c. 69. H1STOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 145 

extremura discrimem adiere, adspernante milite conditioned 
pacis : vulneratur Praetor, Arulenus Rusticus : auxit invi- 
diam, super violatum legati Prsetorisque nomen, propria 
dignatio viri : palantur comites : occiditur proximus lie- 
tor, (q) dimovere turbam ausus : et, ni dato a duce praesi- 
dio defensi forent, sacrum etiam in exteras gentes legato- 
rum jus. ante ipsa patriae moenia, civilis rabies usque in exi- 
tium temerasset. iEquioribus animis accepti sunt, qui ad 
Antonium venerant, non quia modestior miles, sed Duci 
plus auctoritatis. 

LXXXI. Miscuerat se legatis Musonius Rufns, equestris 
ordinis, studium philosophiae et placita Stoicorum aemula- 
tus : cosptabatque, permixtus manipulis, ' bona pacis ac 
' belli discrimina' disserens, armatos monere. Id pteris- 
que ludibrio, pluribus taedio : nee deerant, qui propelle- 
rent proculcarentque, ni, admonitu modestissimi cujusque, 
et aliis minitantibus, omisisset intempestivam sapientiam. 
Obviae fuere et virgines Vestales cum epistolis Vitellii, ad 
Antonium scriptis : l eximi supremo certamini unum diem,* 
postulabat : * si moram interjecissent, facilius omnia conven- 
' tura.' Virgines cum honore dismissae : Vitellio rescrip- 
turn, ' Sabini caede et incendio capitolii dirempta belli com- 
1 mercia.' (r) 

LXXXII. Tentavit tamen Antonius, vocatas ad concio- 
nem legiones mitigare, ' ut, castris juxta pontem Milvi- 
4 urn (s) positis, postera die urbem ingrederentur.' Ratio 
cunctandi, ne asperatus proelio miles, non populo, non Se- 
natui, ne templis quidem ac delubris Deorum consuleret. 
Sed omnem prolationem, ut inimicam victoria? , suspecta- 
bant. Simul fulgentia per colles vexilla, quamquam inbel- 
lis populus sequeretur, speciem hostilis exercitus fecerant. 
Tripartito agmine, pars, ut adstiterat, Flaminia via, pars 
juxta ripam Tiberis incessit ; tertium agmen per Salariam 
Collinae portae propinquabat. Plebs invectis equitibus 
fusa: miles Vitellianus trinis et ipse praesidiis occurrit 
Proelia ante urbem multa et varia : sed Flavianis, consilio 

q The superior magistrates were preceded by lictors. The one 
who went last, or next to the magistrate was called Proximus lie tor. 

r The procession of the vestal virgins is mentioned by Suetonius, in 
Vitel. s. 16. They received for answer, that by the murder of Sabi- 
nus, and the fire of the Capitol, all negociation was inadmissible. 

s Pons Milvius, a bridge over the Tiber, at the distance of two 
miles from Rome, on the Via Fiamminia^ now called PontC'Molle. 

14* 



a 46 d CORN. TACITL a, u. c. 8«. 

ducum praestantibus, saepius prospera. Ii tantum conflic- 
tati sunt, qui in partem sinistram urbis, ad Sallustianos hor- 
tos, per angusta et lubrica viarum flexerant Superstantes 
aiaceriis hortorum Vitelliani, ad serum usque diem, saxis 
pilisque subeuntes arcebant : donee ab equitibus, qui porta 
Collina inruperant, circumvenirentur. Concurrere et in 
campo Martio infestae acies. Pro Flavianis Fortuna et par- 
ta totiens victoria ; Vitelliani desperatione sola ruebant : et> 
quamquam pulsi, rursus in urbe congregabantur. 

LXXXIII. Aderat pugnantibus spectator populus, utque 
in ludicro certamme, hos, rursus illos clamore et plausu fo- 
vebat : quotiens pars altera inclinasset, abditos in tabernis, 
aut, si quam in domum perfugerant, ' erui jugularique' ex- 
postulantes, parte majore praedae potiebantur : nam, milite 
ad sanguinem et casdes obverso, spolia in vulgus cedebant* 
Sseva ac deformis urbe tota facies : alibi proelia et vulneraf 
alibi balineae popinaeque : simul cruor et strues corporum : 
juxtascorta et scortis similes : quantum in luxurioso otio li- 
bidinum ; quicquid in acerbissima captivitate scelerum : 
prorsus ut eandem civitatem et furere crederes et lascivire, 
Conflixerant ante armati exercitus in urbe, bis L. Sulla, (t) 
semel Cinna victoribus : nee tunc minus crudelitatis : nunc 
inhumana securitas, et ne minimo quidem temporis volup- 
fates intermissse : yelut festis diebus id quoque gaudium ac- 
cederet* exsultabant, fruebantur ; nulla partium cura, malis 
yublicis lseti. 

LXXXI V. Plurimum molis in oppugnatione castrorum (w) 
fuit, quae acerrimus quisque, ut navissimam spem, retine- 
bant. Eo intentius victores praecipuo veterum cohortium 
studio, cuncta validissimarum urbium excidiis reperta simul 
admovent, testadinem, tormenta, aggeres, facesque : ' quid- 
4 quid tot prceliis laboris ac periculi hausissent, opere illo 
r consummari,' clamitantes. ' Urbem Senatui ac Populo 
i Romani templa Diis reddita : proprium esse militis decus 
*incastris: illampatriam, illos Penates : ni statim recrpi- 
1 ante, Doctem in armis agendam.' Contra Vitelliani, 



t Speaking of the wars of Cinna and Sylla, Floras says; the last 
grievous calamity that befel the Romans, was a war waged by parri- 
cides within the walls of Rome r in which citizens were engaged 
against citizens, with the rage of gladiators exhibiting a spectacle in 
the Forum. Floras, book hi. chap. 21. 

u Castrorum, The camp of the praetorian guards, a little way out 
of the city of Rome, first devised by Sejanus in the time of Tiberius., 



y. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. TERTIUS. 145 

quamquam nuraero fatoque dispares, inquietare victoriam, 
moraripacem, domo3 arasque cruore foedare, suprema victis 
solatia amplectebantur. Multi semianimes, super turres^et 
propugnacula mcenium exspiravere. Convulsis portis, re- 
liquus globus obtulit se victoribus : et cecidere omnes con- 
trariis vulneribus, versi in hostem : ea cura etiam mofien- 
tibus decori exitus fuit. 

LXXXV. Vitellius, capta urbe, per aversam palatii par- 
tem, Aventinum, in domum uxoris, sellula defertur : ut, si 
diem latebra vitavisset, Tarracinam ad cohortes fratremque 
perfugeret. Dein mobilitate ingenii, et quae natura pavorie 
est, cum omnia metuenti prsesentia maxime displicerent, in 
palatium regreditur, vastum desertumque : dilapsis etiam 
infimis servitiorum, aut occursum ejus declinantibus. Ter- 
ret solitudo et tacentes loci : tentat clausa : inhorrescit va- 
cuis ; fessusque misero errore, et pudenda latebra (y) se- 
met occultans, aty Julio Placido, Tribuno cohortis, protra- 
fettur. Vinctae pone tergum maims : laniata veste, foedura 
spectaculum, ducebatur, multis increpantibus, nullo inlac- 
rimante : deformitas exitus misericordiam abstulerat. Ob- 
vius e Germanicis militibus Vitellium infesto ictu, per iram 3 
vel quo maturiu3 ludibriis eximeret, an Tribunum appetie- 
rit, in incerto fuit : aurem Tribuni amputavit ac statim con- 
fossus est. Vitellium, infestis mucronibus coactum, modo 
erigere os etofferre contumeliis, nunc cadentes statuas suas, 
plerumque Rostra, aut Galbae occisi locum contueri ; pos- 
tremo ad Gemonias, (ic) ubi corpus Flavii Sabini jacuerat, 
propulere. Vox una non degeneris animi excepta, cum Tri- 
buno insultanti, ' se tamen Imperatorem ejus fuisse,' respon- 
dit. Ac deinde ingestis vulneribus concidit. (x) Et vulgus 
eadem pravitate insectabatur interfectum, qua foverat vi- 
ventem. 

LXXXVI. Patria illi Luceria : septimum et quinquage- 
3imum aetatis annum explebat. Consulatum, Sacerdotia, 
nomen locumque inter primores, nulla sua industria, sed 

v Pudenda latebra. Suetonius says this was the porter's lodge : in 
Vitel.s. 16 and 17. 

w Gemonia:, a place at Rome where the bodies of executed crimi- 
nals were thrown. 

x Dio relates this incident differently. According to him, a 
German soldier said, I will give you the best assistance in my 
power, and thereupon stabbed Vitellius and despatched himself. 
Dkubook 65, 



148 C. CORN. TAC. HIST. LIB. TERTIUS. 



cuncta patris claritudine adeptus. (y) Principatum ei de~ 
tulere, qui ipsum non noverant. Studia exercitus, raro cui- 
quam, bonis artibus quaesita, perinde adfuere, quam huic 
per igaaviam. Inerat tamen simplicitas ac liberalitas : 
quag, ni adsit modus, in exitium vertuntur. Amicitias, dum 
magnitudine munerum, non constantiamorum, contineri pu- 
tat, meruit magis, quam habuit. Reipublicae haud dubie 
intererat, Vitellium vinci : sed inputare perfidiam non pos- 
sunt, qui Vitellium Vespasiano prodidere, cum a Galba des- 
civissent. Praecipiti in occasum die, ob pavorem Magis- 
tratuum Senatorumque, qui dilapsi ex urbe, aut per domos 
clientium semet occultabant, vocari Senatus non potuit. 
Domitianum, postquam nihil hostile metuebatur, ad duces 
partium progressum et ' Caesarem' consalutatum, miles fre- 
quens, utque erat in armis, in paternos Penates deduxit. 

y Vitellius owed much to the illustrious name of his father ; but it 
appears that he advanced himself in the road to honours by the ob- 
sequious arts which he practiced under Caligula, Claudius and NeBo. 

See Suet, in Vitel. s. 4. 



THE 

HISTORY 



OF 



TACITUS 

BOOK IV, 



CONTENTS. 
BOOK IV. 

K Cruelties committed at Rome by Vespasian's army. II. Lucius 
Vitellius surrenders with all his forces, and is put to death. IIL 
Affairs in Campania composed by Lucilius Bassus. The sovereign- 
ty of Vespasian confirmed by the Senate with demonstrations of 
obsequious duty. IV. Honours conferred on Mucianus in his ab- 
sence. Antonius and Arrius Varus raised to dignities. The capi- 
tol to be rebuilt : Helvedius Priscus displays a spirit of liberty. V. 
The character of Helvedius Priscus. His contest with Eprius 
Marcellus. IX. A debate concerning the public expenditure, 
X. Musonius Rufus attacks Publius Celer, the informer, who ruin- 
ed Barea Soranus. XI. Mucianus enters the city of Rome. He 
assumes the whole power of the state. Calpurnius Galerianus put 
to death, and also Asiaticus the freedman. XII. A war breaks out 
in Germany. The causes of it. Claudius Civilis, a Batavian, 
heads the revolt. XIV. The Batavians under Civilis and the Ca- 
ninefates under Brinno, the first to take up arms. XV. The Fri- 
sians join the league. A fortress of the Romans demolished ; their 
garrisons cut off. A victory obtained by Civilis. XVII. The 
German nations take up arms. Civilis applies to the States qf 



150 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 822. 

Gaul for th°.ir assistance. XVIII. The inactivity of Hordeonius 
Flaccus. Mummius Lupercus gives battle to Civilis. The vete- 
ran cohorts of the Batavians, in the service of Rome go over to the 
enemy. The Romans routed. They escape to the old camp call- 
ed Vetera. XIX. Some cohorts of the Caninefates and Batavians-, 
on their march to Rome, drawn over by Civilis to his party. 
They return in spite of Hordeonius Flaccus towards the Lower 
Germany, and defeat the Roirfans at Bonn. XXI. Civilis to con- 
ceal his real design, pretends to espouse the cause of Vespasian. 
XXII. He lays siege to the old camp called Vetera. XXIV. Hor- 
deonius Flaccus driven from his command by a mutiny in his camp : 
he resigns his authority to Vocula. XXVI. Herennius Gallus, as- 
sociated with Vocula. The army encamps at Gelduba. A ship 
loaded with corn drawn away from the Romans to the opposite 
bank of the Rhine. Herennius Gallus receives violent blows from 
his own soldiers, and is thrown into prison, but released by Vocula. 
XXIX. Civilis attempts in the night time to storm the old camp. 
XXXI. By letters from Antonius, the Romans receive intelligence 
of the victory at Cremona. The auxiliaries from Gaul renounce 
the cause of Vifcellius. Hordeonius Flaccus enforces the oath of 
fidelity to Vespasian. XXXII. Montanus, who commanded a Vi- 
tellian cohort at Cremona, is sent to Civilis, to require that chief to 
lay down his arms. Civilis inflames the turbulent spirit of Monta- 
nus. XXXIII. Civilis sends a detachment against Vocula. A battle 
is fought, prosperous at first on the side of the Germans. The Ro- 
mans prevail at last. Vocula makes no use of his victory. XXXVI . 
Civilis makes himself master of Gelduba. A fresh sedition among 
the Romans. The soldiers murder Hordeonius Flaccus. Vocula 
in the disguise of a slave makes his escape. XXXVII. Vocula re- 
sumes the command and marches to raise the siege of Magontiacum. 
The Treverians revolt to Civilis. XXXVIII. Transactions at 
Rome. Vespasian and Titus declared consuls in their absence. A 
famine dreaded at Rome, and Africa supposed to be in arms, 
XXXIX. Domitian praetor. Mucianus jealous of Antonius Primus, 
and Arrius Varus. He lessens the power of both. Part of the 
army ordered back to Germany, and tranquillity thereby restored to 
Rome. XL. Honour done to the memory of Galba. MusoniuF 
Rufus renews his accusation against Publius Celer. Celer con- 
demned. XLII. Messala intercedes for his brother, Aquilius Re- 
gulus, a notorious informer. Curtius Montanus makes a vehement 
speech against Regulus. XLIII. Eprius Marcellus is again attack- 
ed by Helvidius Priscus. Domitian proposes a general oblivion of 
all past grievances. A few offenders ordered to return to their 
place of exile. XLV. A senator complains of having been beat b}~ 
the inhabitants of Sienna. The guilty brought to Rome and pun- 
ished. XL VI. A violent sedition among the praetorian bands quel- 
led by Mucianus. The order of succession to the consulship, es- 
tablished by Vitellius, declared void. The funeral of Flavius Sa- 
binus performed with the honours usually paid to the rank of cen- 
sor. XL VIII. Assassination of Lucius Piso in Africa. L. War be- 
tween the jEensians and the people of Leptis prevented by Festus, 
fhe commander of the legions. The Garamantes put to flight- 



. i . 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 151 

LI. Vespasian informed of the death of Vitellius. Succours offered 
lie Parthian king, but refused. LII. Vespasian exasperated by 
he account* of Domitian's conduct at Rome. Titus endeavours to 
gate the anger of his father, and sets out to conduct the war 
•igainst the Jews. LIU. The rebuilding of the capitol entrusted to 
Lucius Vestinus. LIV. Two wars at once in Germany and Gaul, 
occasioned by the death of Vitellius. Civilis avows his hostile in- 
tentions. The Treverians and Lingones revolt frcin the Romans, 
under the influence of Classicus, Tutor, and Julius Sabinus. The 
other states of Gaul on the point of revolting. LVIII. Voculahar- 
rangues his soldiers. He is slain by an emissary sent by Classicus. 
The soldiers declare for the empire of the Gauls. LX. The le- 
gions besieged in the old camp, submit in like manner to the Gauls. 
LXI. Vow of Civilis to let his beard grow : after the defeat of the 
legions, he thinks his vow complete. He is said to have given cer- 
tain Roman prisoners to his infant son, to divert himself with shoot- 
ing arrows at them. He sends presents to Veleda, the German 
prophetess ; Mummius Lupercus sent to her as a present ; he i3 
killed on the road. Veleda had foretold the destruction of the le- 
gions, and her authority increases throughout Germany. LXII. 
The captive legions march in a dismal procession from Xovisium to 
ihe Treverian territories. Magnanimous behaviour of the Picenti- 
nean squadron of horse. LXIII. The Agrippinean colony in danger 
from the nations beyond the Rhine. LXVI. Civilis gives battle to 
Claudius Labio : and having routed him, receives the Batavians and 
Tungrians under his protection. LXVTL The Lingones defeated 
by the Sequanians. Julius Sabinus, the Lingonian chief, escapes, 
and lives in subterraneous caves for nine years afterwards. The 
memorable constancy of his wife, Eponina. LXVIII. At Rome the 
empire thought to be in danger. Mucianus and Domitian prepare 
10 set out for Gaul. The Gauls call a general assembly of the 
States. They prefer peace to the dangers of war. LXX. Civilis 
and Tutor differ in their opinions about the conduct of the war. 
Classicus agrees with Tutor, and they resolve to hazard a battle. 
LXXI. Petilius Cerealis arrives at Magontiacum. He gains a com- 
plete victory over the Treverians at Rigodulum, on the banks of 
the Moselle. Valentinus, the Treverian chief taken prisoner. 
LXXII, The legions that had revolted return to their duty, and 
are received into the Roman camp. LXXIII. Cerealis re- 
ceives the Treverians and Lingones under his protection. 
LXXV. Cerealis gives battle to Civilis and Classicus : the begin- 
ning of the conflict doubtful, but the issue favourable to the Ro- 
mans. LXXIX. The Agrippineans desert the cause of the Ger- 
mans. LXXX. Mucianus orders the son of Vitellius to be put to 
death. Antonius Primus, resenting the behaviour of Mucianus, 
proceeds to Vespasian, but is not well received. LXXXI. Mira- 
cles performed by Vespasian at Alexandria. He visits the temple 
of Serapis. LXXXIII. An account of the origin, and superstitious 
worship paid by the Egyptians to that God. LXXXV. Near the 
foot of the Alps, Valentinus is brought a prisoner before Mucianus 
and Domitain. He is condemned to die. The firmness with which 
he meets his fate. LXXXVI. Domitian arrives at Lyons. He 



152 €. CORN. TAC1TI. a, u. ft 822 

attempts to prevail on Cerealis to resign the command of the army 
in Germany. His dissimulation, and pretended love of studious 
retirement, the better to conceal his real passions. 
These transactions passed partly during the civil war between Vespa- 
sian and Vitellius, in the year of Rome, 822 ; and partly after the 
elevation of Vespasian in the 
Year of Rome. Of Christ. Consuls. 

823 70 Flavius Vespasianus, i 

Titus, his son. 



Interfecto Vitellio, bellum magis desierat, quam pax 
coeperat. Arniati per urbem victores inplacabili odio vie- 
tos consectabantur : plenae caedibus viae, cruenta fora tern- 
plaque, passim trucidatis, ut quemque fors obtulerat. Ac 
mox, augescente licentia, scrutari ac protrahere abditos : 
si quem procerum habitu et juventa conspexerant, obtrun- 
care, nullo militum aut populi discrimine. (a) Quae ssevi- 
tia, recentibus odiis, sanguine explebatur, dein verterat in 
avaritiam : nihil usquam secretum aut clausum sinebant, 
1 Vitellianos occultari,' simulantes. Initium id perfringen- 
darum domuum ; vel, si resisteretur, caussa caedis, nee dee- 
rat egentissimus quisque ex plebe : et pessimi servitiorum- 
prodere ultro dites dominos : alii ab amicis monstrabantur, 
Ubique lamenta, conclamationes et forma captae urbis : adeo 
ut Othoniani Vitellianique militis invidiosa antea petulantia 
desideraretur. Duces partium, accendendo civili bello 
acres, temperandae victoriae inpares : quippe in turbas et 
discordias (b) pessimo cuique plurima vis : pax et quies 
bonis artibus indigent. 

II. Nomen sedemque Caesaris Domitianus acceperat : 
nondum ad curas intentus, sed stupris et adulteriis filium 
Principis agebat. Praefectura Praetorii penes Arrium Va- 
rum : summa potentiae in Primo Antonio : is pecuniam fa- 
miliamque e Principis domo, quasi Cremonensem praedam, 
rapere : ceteri modestia vel ignobilitate, ut in bello obscu- 
ri, ita praemiorum expertes. Civitas pavida et servitio pa^ 
rata, ' occupari redeuntem Tarracina L. Vitellium cum co- 
• hortibus, exstinguique reliqua belli,' postulabat. Praemis- 

a Si quem procerum— discrimine. Murphy translates this sen- 
tence ; whoever was grown up to manhood, citizen or soldier, wa« 
butchered on the spot. 

b In turbas et discordias. Concitandas is understood. 



s. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTU8. 153 

si Ariciaro (c) equites : agmen legionum intra Bovillas (d) 
st^-tit. Nee cunctatus est Vitellius, so que et cohortes ar- 
bitrio victoris permittere. Et miles infelicia arma, hand 
minus ira. quam metu abjecit. Longus deditorum ordo* 
septus armatis, per urbern incessit : nemo supplici vultu, 
sedtristes et truces et adversum plausus ac lasciviam insul- 
tantis vulgi im mobiles : paucos erumpere ausos, circumjec- 
tipressere: ceteri in custodi; m conditi. Nihil quisquam 
locutus indignum, et, quamquam inter adversa. salva virtu- 
tis fama. Dein L. Vitelliusinterficitur, par vitiis fratris, in 
Principatu ejus vigilantior ; nee perinde prosperis socius, 
quam adversis abstractus. 

III. Iisdem diebus Lucilius Bassus, cum expedito equite, 
ad componendam Campaniam mittitur : discordibus muni- 
cipiorum animis, magis inter semet, quam cc* tumaeia ad ver- 
sus Principem. Viso milite quies : et n.inoribus coloniis 
inpumtas. Capuae legio tertia hiemandi c ussa locatur, et 
do.mus inlustres adflictae ; cum contra Tarracinenses nulla 
opejuvarentur. Tanto proclivius est injuria?, quam bene- 
ficio, vicem exsolvere : quia gratia oneri, ultio in quaestu, 
habetur. Solatio fuit servus Verginii Capitonis, quern pro- 
ditorem Tarracinensium diximus, patibulo adnxus. in iis- 
dem annulis, quos acceptos a Vitellio gestabat. At Romas 
Sen-^tus euncta Prin.ipibus solita Yespasiano decernit, laelus 
et spei certus : quippe sumpta per Gallias Hispaniasque 
civilia arma, motis ad bellnm Germanis, mox Illyrico, post- 
quam iEgyptum, Judseam Syriamque et omnes provincial 
exercitusque lustraverant, velut expiato terrarum orbe, ce- 
pi??e finem videbantur. Addidere alacritatem Vespasiani 
litterae, tamquam manente bello scriptae : ea, prima specie, 
forma : (e) ceterum ut Princeps loquebatur, civilia de se 
et ReipublicaB egregia : nee Senatus obsequium deerat. 
Ipsi ' Consulates cum Tito fiiio, Prastura Domitiano et Con- 
' sulare imperium' decernuntur. 

IV. Miserat et Mucianus epistolas ad Senatum. quae ma* 
teriana sermonibus prcebuere : ' si privatus esset, cur pub- 



c Ariciam. See note to see. xxxvi. book iii. of this history. 

d Bovill^e, ajown of Latium, near mount Albanus ; about ten 
miles from. Home, on the Appian way. 

e h or, prima specie, forma — viz. of the letters, which appeared to 
ha~e been v/ritten before the termination of the war, and by one wha 
Had not obtained the supreme command, 

15 



154 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. u. c. 822. 

1 lice loqueretur ? (/) potuisse eadem, paucos post dies, 

• loco sentential dici :' ipsa quoque insectatio in Vitellium 
sera et sine libertate. (g) Id vero erga Rempublicam su- 
perbum, erga Principem contumeliosum, quod, ' in manu 

* sua fuisse Imperium donatumque Vespasiano,' jactabat, 
Ceterum invidiam occulto ; adulatio in aperto erant : muito 
cum honore verborum 4 Muciano triumphalia' debello civiii 
data : sed ' in Sarmatas expeditio' (h) tingebatur. Addun- 
tur ' Primo Antonio Consularia, Cornelio Fusco, et Arrio 
4 Varo, Praetoria insignia ' Mox Deos respexere : ' resti- 
4 tui' placuit ' capitoiium :' eaque omnia Valerius Asiaticus 4 
Consul designatus, censuit: ceteri vultu manuque : pauci, 
quibus conspicua dignitas, aut ingenium adulatione exerci- 
tum, compositis orationibus adsentiebantur. Ubi ad Hel- 
vidium Priscum. Prastorem designatum, ventum, prompsit 
sententiam, ut honorificam in bonum Principem, ita falsa 
aberant, (i) et studiis Senatus adtollebatur. Isque praeci- 
puus illi dies, magnse offensse initium et magnae gloriae fuit* 

V. Res poscere videtur, quia iterum (j) in mentionem 
incidimus viri, saepius memorandi, ut vitam studiaque ejus, 
et quali fortuna sit usus, paucis repetam. Helvidius Pris- 
cus, Tarracinae municipio, Cluvio patre, qui ordinem pri- 
mipili duxisset, (k) ingenium inlustre altioribus studiis juve- 
nis adrnodum dedit : non ut pierique, ut nomine magnifico 
segne otium velaret, sed quo lirmior adversus fortuita Rem- 
publicam capesseret : doctores sapientise seculus est, qui 

/ Mucianus assumed a character above the rank of a private citi- 
zen, when he addressed the consuls and senate. See Cicero ad Fa- 
miliar es, epist. xv. 

g Ipsa quoque — sine libertate. His invectives against Vitellius 
came too late, and were no proof of his ardour in the cause of liberty ; 
for Vitellius was dead. 

h In Sarmatas expeditio. See Hist. iii. 46. Triumphs and tri- 
umphal ornaments were never granted for a victory over Roman ci- 
tizens. For that reason, some advantage which Mucianus had gain- 
ed over the Sarmatians served as a pretext. 

i Ut honor ificam— -falsa aberant. As honourable to a virtuous 
prince, as it was destitute of false praise. 

j Iterum, See Hist. ii. 91. 

k Ordinem primipili duxisset. The centurion of the first century 
of the first maniple of the Triarii was called Centurio primipulus. 
He presided over all the other centurions, and had the charge of the 
eagle (aquila) or chief standard of the legion. He had a place in the 
council of war with the consul and tribunes. The other centurion* 
were called minores ordins* 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 155 

sola bona, qua honesta, mala tantum, quae turpia : poten- 
liam, nobilitatem, ceteraque extra animum, neque bonis, 
neque malis adnumerant. Quaestoribus aclhuc, a Paeto 
Thrasea gener delectus, e moribus soceri nihil asque ac li- 
bertatem hau c it : civis, Senator, maritus, gener, amicus, 
euactus vitas ofriciis aequabilis, opumcontemptor. recti per- 
vioax, constans adversus metus. 

VI. Ermt, quibus adpetentior famce videretur, quando 
etiam sapientibus cupido gloriae novissima exuitur. Ruina 
soceri in exilium pulsus, at, Galbae Principatu, rediit, Mar- 

m cell urn Eprtum, delatorem Thraseas, adcusare adgreditur. 
Ea ultio, incertum, major an justior. Senatum in studia di- 
dtixerat Nam, si caderet Marcellus, agmen reorum (?) 
••ternebatur. Primo minax certamen, et egregiis utriusque 
oratiooibus testatum. Mox, dubia volunjtate Galbae, multis 
Senitorum cieprecantibus, omisit Priscus : variis, ut sunt 
hominum ingenia, sermonibus moderationem landantium, 
aut constantiam requirentium. Ceterum, eo Senatus die, 
quo * de Imperio Vespasiani' (m) censebant, placuerat 
4 mitti ad Principem legates. ' Hinc inter Helvidium et 
Eprium acre jurgium. Priscus, * eligi nominatim a Magis- 
4 tratibus juratis,' Marcellus ' ^rnam' postuiabat : qua3 
Consulis designati sententia fuerat. 

VII. Sed Marcelii stadium proprius rubor excitabat, ne, 
aliis electis, posthabitus crederetur. Paullatimque per al- 
tercationem ad continuas et infestas orationes provecti sunt, 
quae rente Helvidio, l quid ita Marcellus judicium Magistra- 
4 tuum pavesceret ? esse illi pecuniar.! et eioquentiam, quis 
4 multos anteiret, ni memoria flagitiorum urgeretur. Sorte 
4 et urna mores non discerni : suffragia et existimationem 
4 Senatus reperta, ut in cuj usque vitam famamque penetra- 
4 rent : pertinere ad utilitatem Reipublicae, pertinere ad 
4 Vespasiani honorem, occurrere illi, quos innocentissimos 
* Senatus habeat, qui honestis sermonibus aures Imperatoris 
4 inbuant. Fuisse Vespasiano amicitiam cum Thrasea, So- 



/ Agmen reorum. The band of informers, who, during the reign 
of Nero, procured the banishment of many virtuous citizens, plainly 
foresaw their own destruction, in case Marcellus should be condemned. 

m The decree of the senate, by which the imperial prerogative was 
vested in the Emperor, is usually called Lex Regia. Brotier say?. 
the law passed in favour of Vespasian, is still extant on a table of brass 
carefully preserved at Rome. 



156 



C. CORN. TAC1TI. 



a. u. c. OS*. 






rano, Sentio : (n) quorum adcusatores, etiamsi pnniri non 
oporteaf;, ostentari non debere : hoc Senatus judicio velut 
admoneri Principem, qiios probet, quos relormidet : nul- 
lum majus boni Imperii instrumentum, quam bonos ami- 
cos. Esse satis Mareello, quod Neronern in exitium tot 
innocenti am inpulerit. Frueretur praemiis et inpunitate ; 
Veapasianum melioribus relinqueret.' 
VIII. Marcellus, ' non suam sententiam inpugnari, sed 
Consulem designatum censuisse,' dicebat, ' secundum Ve- 
tera exempla, quse sortem (o) legationibus posuissent, »e 
ambitioni aut inimicitiis locus ibret. Nihil evenisse, cur 
antiquitus instituta exolescerent : aut Principis hanor in 
cujusqaam coniumenam verteretur : sufficere omnes ob- 
sequio : idmagis vitandum, ne pervicacia quorumdaminri- 
taretur animus, novo Principatu suspensus, et vultus quo- 
que ac sermones omnium circumspectans. Se meminisse 
temporum, qui bus natus sit, quam civitatis formaai patres 
avique instituerint : ulteriora mirari, prsesentia sequl : 
bonos Imperatorcs voto expetere, qualescumquo tolera- 
re. Non magis sua oratione Thraseam, quam judicio Se- 
natus, adflictum. Saevitiam Neronis per hnjusmodi ima- 
gines inlusisse : nee minus sibi anxiam talem amicitiam r 
quam aliis exilium. Denique constantia, fortiiudine, Ca- 
tonibns et Brutis sequaretur Helvidius : se unum esse ex 
ilio Senatu, qui simul servient. Suadere etiam Prisco, 
ne supra Principem scanderet : ne Vesp;.isianum, senem 
triumphalem, (p) juvenum liberorum patrem, prseceptis 
coerceret. Quomodo pessimis Imperatoribus sine fine 
dominationem, ita quamvis egregiis modurn libertatis, pla- 
cere.' Hasc, magnis utrimque contentionibus jactata, di- 

versis studiis accipiebantur. Vicit pars, quae sortiri legatos 

malebat, etiam mediis Patrum adnitentibus, retinere morem. 

Et splendidissimus quisque eodem inclinabat, metu invidiam, 

si ipsi eligerenjur. 



n Who Sentius was, does not appear. Brotier thinks there was a 
mistake in. the text, and that the true reading is Seneca, with whom 
Vespasian was probably connected in friend-hip. 

o Ambassadors, and deputies sent on particular occasions, were ge- 
nerally chosen by ballot, as appears in Cicero ad Attic um, Book i, 
epist. 17. 

p Senem triumphalem. On account of his achievements in Bri- 
tain, he had obtained the honour of a triumph under the Emperor 
Claudius. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 157 

IX. Secutum aliud certamen. Praetores aerarii (nam 
turn a Praetoribus tract.abatur aerarium) (gr) •' publicam pau- 
' pertatem' questi, ' modum inpensis' postulaverant. Earn 
curam Consul designates, ob magnitudinem oneris et reme- 
dii difficultatem, Principi reservabat. Helvidius, ' arbitrio 
' Senatus agendum,' censuit. Cum perrogarent sententias 
Consults, Vulcatius Tertullinus, Tribunus plebis, interces- 
sit, 4 ne quid super tanta re, Principi absente, statueretur.' 
Censuerat Helvidius, ' ut capitolium publice restitueretur, 
1 (r) a ljuvaret Yespasianus.' Earn sententiam modestis- 
simus quisque silentio, deinde oblivio transmissit. Fuere, 
qui etmeminissent. 

X. Turn invectus est Musonius Rufus in ' Publium Cele- 
" rem, a quo Baream Soranum falso testimonio circumven- 
1 turn,' arguebat. Ea cognitione renovari odia adcusatio- 
num videhantur : sed vilis et nocens reus protegi non po- 
terat. Quippe Sorani sancta memoria : Celer professus 
sapientiam, dein testis in Baream, proditor corruptorque 
amici et cujus se magistrum ferebat. Proximus dies caus- 
sae destinatur. Nee tarn Musonius aut Publius, quam Pris- 
cus et Marcellus ceterique, motis ad ultionem animis, ex- 
spectabantur. 

XL Tali rerilm statu, cum discordia inter patres, ira 
apud victos, nulla in victoribus auctoritas, non leges, non 
Princeps in civitate e?sent, Mucianus, urbem ingressus, 
cuncta simul in se traxit : fracta Primi Antonii Varique Ar- 
rii potentia, male dissimulata in eos Muciani iracundia. 
quam vis vultu tegeretur. Sed ci vitas, rimandis offensis sa- 
gax, verterat se transtuleratque. Hie unus ambtri, coli : 
nee deerat ipsi : stipatus armatis, domos hortosque permu- 
tans, adparatu, incessu, excubiis. vim Principis amplecti. 
nonen remittere. Plurimum terroris intulit caedes Calpur- 
nii Galeriani. Is fuit filius C. Pisonis, nihil ausus : sed no- 
men insigne, et decora ipsi juventa, rumore vulgi celebra- 
bantur : erantque in civitate adhuc turbida, et novis ser- 

q A pr&toribus tractabatur cerarium. See Annals, xiii. 29. 

r Capitolium publice restitueretur. That the Capitol should be 
rebuilt under the auspices of the Republic, Vespasian aiding, but not 
in the capacity of Emperor. Helvedius contended for the indepen- 
dence of the Senate. His enemies took care to store that circumstance 
in their minds, for a future day. The ruin of this excellent man was 
the disgrace of Vespasian's reign. See appendix to Hist. i. s. 79, 
Mur. Tac. 

15* 



158 V. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 82*. 

monibus laeta, qui Principatus inanem ei famam circumda- 
rent. Ju?su Muciani custodia militari cinctus, ne in ipsa 
urbe conspectior mors foret, ad quad rages i mum ab urbe la- 
piclem, via Appia, fuso per venas sanguine, exstinguiiur. 
Julius Priscus, Praetori arum, sub Viteliio, cohortium Pra3- 
fectus, se ipse interfecit, pudore magis, quam necessitate. 
Alphenus Varus ign a viae infamiaeque suae superfuit. Asia- 
ticus (s) enim (is liber tus) malam potentiam servili suppli- 
cio expiavit. 

XII. Iisdem diebus crebrescentem cladis Germanicae 
famam, nequaquam maesta civitas excipiebat : ' caesos ex- 
' ercitus, capta legionum hiberna, descivisse Gallias,' noa 
ut mala loquebantur. Id bellum quibus caussis ortum, 
quanto externarum sociarumque gentium motu flugraverit, 
altius expediam. Batavi, donee trans Rhenum agebant, 
pars Cattorum, (*) seditione domestica pulsi, extremaGai- 
licae orae, vacua cultoribus, simulque insulam, nunc Bata- 
viam, occupavere, quam mare Oceanus a fronte, Rlienus 
amnis tergum ac latera circumluit : nee opibus, societate 
validiorum, adtriti, (u) viros tantum armaque Imperio mi- 
nistrant : diu Germanicis bellis exerciti : raox aucta per 
Britanniam (y) gloria, transmissis illuc cohortibus, quas 
vetere instituto nobilissimi popularium regebant. Erat et 
dotni delectus eques, praecipuo nandi studio, arma equos- 
que retinens, integris turmis Rhenum perrumpere. 

XIII. Julius Paullus et Claudius Civilis, Regia stirpe, 
multo ceteros anteibant. Paullum Fonteius Capito, falso 
rebellionis crimine, interfecit. Injectae Civili catenae, mis- 
$usque ad Neronem et a Galba absolutus, sub Viteliio rur- 
sus discrimen adiit, flagitante supplicium ejus exercitu. In- 
de caussae irarum, spesque ex malis nostris. Sed Civilis, 
ultra quam barbaris solitum, ingenio sollers, et ' Sertorium 
* se, 5 aut ' Hannibalem' ferens, simili oris dehonestamento, 



^ Asiaticus was the favourite freedman of Vitellius. Hist. ii. ?♦ 
57 and 95. 

t For the Batavi and the Catti, see the manners of the Germans, 
s. 29. 

u Nee opibus — attriti. They did not suffer from their alliance 
-With Rome, although they were far the weaker party. What 
they escaped frequently happens to nations, which form alli- 
ances with others more powerful than themselves. 

v The Batavians served in Britain as the allies and auxiliaries of 
Home. See Life of Agricola, s. 18 and 36, 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS, 15S 

(tr) ne ut hosti obviam iretur, si a Pcpulo Romano palam 
descivisset, Vespasi ani amicitiam studiurnque partinm prae- 
tendit : missis sane ad eum Primi Antonii litteris, quibus, 

* avertere accita Vitellio auxilia et, tumultus Germanici 
: specie, reteotare legiones,' juhebatur. Eadem Kordeo- 
nius Flaccus praesens monuerat, incliuato in Vespasianum 
anirno, et Reipublicae cura; cm excidium adventabat, si 
redintegratUQi beliuii et tot armatorum millia Italiam in- 
rupissent. 

XIV. Igitur Civilis, desciscendi certus, occultato inte- 
rim altiore consiiio, cetera ex eventu judicatures, novare 
res hoc modo ccepit. Jussu Vitellii, Batavorum juvenilis 
ad delectum vocabatur ; quern, suapte Datura gravem, cne- 
rabant ministri avaritia ac iuxu, senes aut invalidos conqui- 
rendo, quos pretio dimitterent : rursus inpuhes, sed forma 
conspicui (et est plerisque procera pueritia) ad stuprum 
trahebantur. Hinc inviciia : et compositae seditionis (ar) 
auctores perpulere, ut delectum abnuerent. Civilis pri- 
mores gentis et promtissimos vulgi, specie epularum, (?/) 
sacrum in nemus vocatos, ubi nocte ac laetitia incaluisse vi- 
det, a laude gloriaque gentis orsus, injurias et raptus et ce- 
tera servitii mala enumerate ■ Neque enim societatem, ut 
' olim, sed tamquammancipia haberi : quando (z)Legatum, 
1 gravi quidem comitatu et superbo cum imperio venire ? 
' tradi se Praefectis Centurionibusque : quos ubi spoliis et 

* sanguine expleverint, mutari, exquirique novos sinus et 

* varia praedandi vocabula. Instare delectum, quo liberi a 
c parentibus, fratres a fratribus, velutsupremum dividantur. 

* Nunquam magis adflictam rem Romanam, nee aliud in hi- 
- bernis, quam praedam et senes : adtollerent tantum oculos 
: et inanialegionum nomina ne pavescerent : at sibi robur 

w Oris dehonestamento. It was the misfortune of many of the ce- 
lebrated ancient generals to lose the use of one of their eyes. Plu- 
tarch says that this was the case with Philip, Antigonus, Hannibal 
and Sertorius. 

x Composites seditionis, i. e. secretly organized. This is the read- 
ing of Ernestus. It is commonly written compositi. 

y The barbarians consulted about the operations of war at their 
carousing festivals, and frequently in their sacred groves. See the 
manners of the Germans, s. 9, and 22 Brotier thinks that the wood 
where Civilis held his convention, was between the Rhine and the 
Mesa (the Meuse) at a place now called Dooden- Werd. 

s Quando, etc. Ernestus supposes that quippe should be substi- 
tuted for quando, and the interrogation omitted after venire* 



160 C. CORN. TACiTL a.'u.c. 822. 

6 peditum equitumque : consanguineos Germanos : Gallias 
8 idem cupientes : ne Romanis quidem ingratum id bellum, 
' cujus ambiguam fortunatn Vespasiano inputaturos : (a) 

* Victoria? rationem nonreddi.' 

XV. Magno cum adsensu auditus, barbaro ritu et patriis 
exsecrationibus universos adigit. Missi ad Cannineiates, 
qui consilia sociarent. Ea gens partem insulse colit, ori- 
gine, lingua, virtute, par Batavis ; numero superantur. 
Mox occultis nuntiis perlexit Britannica auxilia, (6) Batavo- 
rum cohortes, missas in Germaniam, ut supra retulimus, 
ac turn Magontiaci agentes. Erat in Canninefatibus (c) sto- 
lidae audaciae Brinno, claritate natalium insigni : pater ejus, 
multa hostilia ausus, Caianarum expeditionum ludibrium (a 7 ) 
inpune spreverat. Igitur ipso rebellis familiae nomine pla- 
cuit, inpositusque scuto, moregentis, et sustinentium hume- 
ris vibratus. Dux deligitur. Statimque accitis Frisiis 
(transrhenana gens est) duarumcohortium hiberna, proxima 
occupatu, Oceano inrumpit. Nee praeviderant impetum 
hostium milites : nee, si prasvidissent, satis virium ad ar- 
cenclum erat. Capta igitur et direpta castra : dein vagos, 
et pacis modo effusos, lixas negotiatoresque Romanes inva- 
dunt. Simul excidiis castellorum inminebant : quae a Prae- 
fectis cohortium incensa sunt, quiadefendi nequibant. Sig- 
na vexillaque et quod militum in superiorem insular partem 
congregantur, duce Aqu ; lio, Primipilari ; nomen magis 
exercitus, quam robur. Quippe, viribus cohortium abduc- 
tis, Vitellius, e proximis Nerviorum Germanorumque pagis, 
segnem numerum armis oneraverat. 

XVI. Civilis, do3o grassandum ratus, incusavit ultro 
Praefectos, ; quod castella deseruissent. Se cum cohorte, 
4 cv i prsereat, Canninefatem tumultum compressurum : iile 

* sua quisque hiberna repeterent.' Subesse fraudem con- 
silio, et di«persas cohortes facilius opprimi, nee Brinnonem 
ducem ejus belli, sed Civilem esse, patuit : erumpentibus 



a The Batavians in case of failure could attribute their insurrec- 
tion to their zeal for Vespasian. 

b Britannica auxilia. He thus denominates the Batavian cohorts, 
because they had been in Britain with the fourteenth legion 

c The Canmnefates occupied the western part of B atavia near the 
Hague. Magontiacum was a town of Gaul ; now Mentz. situated at 
the confluence of the Rhine and the Maine. 

d Caianarum expeditionum ludibrium Caligula^ wild expedi- 
tion into Germany, A. U. C, 793, See Suetonius in Calig. 43. 



j. c. 69. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 161 

paullatim indiciis, quas Germani, laeta bello gens, non diu 
occultaverant. Ubi insidiae pa rum cessere, ad vim trans- 
gressus, Canninefates, Frisios, (e) Batavos propriis cuneis 
componit: directa ex diverso acies, hand procul a flumine 
Rheno, etobversis in hostem navibus, quas, incensis castel- 
lis, illuc adpulerant : nee din ceriato, Tungrorum cohors 
signa ad Civilem transtulit : percuisique milites inprovisa 
proditione a sociis hostibusque csedebantur, Eadem etiam 
navibus perfidia. Pars remigum e Batavis, tamquam in- 
peritia officia nautarum propugnaiorumque inpediebant : 
mox contra tendere, et puppes hostili ripae objicere : ad 
postremum gubernatores Centurionesque, nisi eadem volen- 
tis, trueidant, donee universa quatuor et vigintinavium clas- 
sic transfugeret, aut caperetur. 

XVII. Clara ea victoria in prassens, in posterum usui : 
armaque et naves, qnibus indigebant, adepti, magna per 
Germanias Galliasque fama, * libertatis auctores' celebra* 
bantur. Germaniae statim misere legatos, auxilia offerentes. 
Galliarum societatem Civilis arte donisque adfectabat, cap- 
tos cohorlium Praefectos suas in civitates remittendo : co- 
hcrtibus, abire, an manere mallent, data potestate : ma- 
nentibus bonorata militia: digredientibus spoiia Romano- 
rum offerebantur. Simul secretis sermonibus admonebat 

* malorum, quas tot annis perpessi, miseram servitutem false 

* pacem vocarent. Batavos, quamquam tributorum exper- 

* tes, arma contra communes dominos cepisse : prima acie 
4 fusum victumque Romanum : quid? si Gallias jugum 
4 exuant ? quantum in Italia reliquum ? provinciarum san- 
4 guine provincias vinci : ne Vindicis aciem cogitarent. (f) 
4 Batavo equite protritos ^duos Avemosque : fuisse inter 
' Verginii auxilia Belgas : vereque reputantibus, G alii am 
4 suismet viribus concidisse. Nunc easdem omnium partes, 
4 addito, si quid militaris disciplinae in castris Romanorum 

* viguerit : esse secum veteranas cohortes, quibus nuper 
4 Othonis legiones procubuerint. Servirent Syria Asiaque 
4 et suetus Regibus Oriens : multos adhuc in Gallia vivere, 

* ante tributagenitos.(g) Nuper certe, caeso Quinctilio Varo, 



e The Frisii were a people of Germany inhabiting a territory near 
the Rhine ; now the Frisons. 

f For an account of the defeat of Vindex at Vesontiumin Gaul, see 
the appendix to annals xvi. s. 12. Mur. Tac. 

g A'ntt tribula gentios. Born before tributes were imposed upon 



162 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. v. c. 822. 

4 pulsam e Germania servitutem. Nee Vitellium Prin- 

* cipem, sed Cassarem Augustum bello provocatum. Liber- 

* tatem natura, etiam mutis animalibus, datam. Virtutem 
4 proprium hominum bonum. Deos fortioribus adesse. 
' Proinde adriperent vacui occupatos, integri fessos : duna 

* alii Vespasianum, alii Vitellium, foveant, patere locum 

* adversus utrumque. 5 

XVIII. Sic in Gallias Germaniasque intentus, si destina- 
ta provenissent, validissimarum ditissimarumque nationum 
Regno inminebat. At Flaccus Hordeonius primes Civilis 
conatus per dissimulationem aluit. Ubi ' expugnata castra, 

* deletas cohortes, pulsum Batavorum insula Rornanum 

* nomen,' trepidi nuntii adferebant, Mummium Lupercum, 
Legatum, (is duai-um legionum hibernis praeerat) * egredi 
' adversus hostem' jubet. Lupercus legionarios e praesen- 
tibus, Ubios e proximis, Treverornm equites, baud longe 
agentes, raptirn transrnisit, addita Batavorum ala, quae jam 
pridem conrupta, fidem simulabat, ut, proclitis in ipsa acie 
Romanis, majore pretio fugeret. Civilis, captarum cohor- 
tiumsignis circumdatus, utsuo militi recens gloria ante ocu- 
los, et hostes memoria cladis terrerentur, matrem suam so- 
roresque, simul omnium conjuges parvosque liberos, consis- 
tere a tergo jubet : hortamenta victorias, vel pulsis pudo* 
rem. Ut virorum cantu, feminarum ululatu, sonuit acies ? 
nequaquam par a legionibus cohortibusque redditur clamor. 
Nudaverat sinistrum cornu Batavorum ala transfugiens, sta- 
timque in nos versa : sed legionarius miles, quamqnam re- 
bus trepidis, arma ordinesque retinebat. Ubiorum Tre- 
verorumque auxilia, fceda ftiga oispersa, totis campis palan- 
tur. nibc incubaere Germani. Et fuit interim eifugiiim 
legionibus in castra, quibus ' Veterum' (/*) nomen est. 
Praefectus alae Batavorum, Claudius Labeo, oppidano cer- 
tamine aemulus Civili, ne interfectus invidiam apud popu- 
lares, vel, si retineretur, semina discordias praeberet, in 
Frisios avehitur. 

XIX. Iisdem diebus, Batavorum et Canninefatium co- 
hortes, cum jussu Vitellii in urbem pergerent, missus a 



them by the Romans; which happened for the first time A. U.C. 
769. 

h Veterum. Vetera castra, the old camp which was a fortified 
station for the legions : now Sqnten, in the duchy of Cleves. not fa: 
from the Rhine, 



j. c. 69* HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. ies 

Civile nuntius adsequitur. Intumuere statim superbia fe- 
rociaque, et ' pretium itineris, donativum, duplex stipen- 
i dium, augeri equitum numerum,' promissa sane a Vitellio, 
postulabant, non, ut adsequerentur, sed caussam seditioni. 
Et Flaccus, multa concedendo, nihil aliud effecerat, quara 
ut acrius exposcerent, qua3 sciebant negaturum. Spreto 
Flacco, inferiorem Germaniam petivere, utCivilijungeren- 
tur. Hordeonius, adhibitis Tribunis Centurionibusque, 
consultavit, ' num obsequium abnuentes vi coerceret.' 
Mox, insita ignavia et trepidis ministris, quos ambiguus 
auxiliorum animus et subito delectu suppletae legiones 
augebant, statuit, continere intra castra militem. Dein 
poenitentia, et arguentibus ipsis, qui suaserant, tamquam 
secuturus, scripsit Herennio Gallo, legionis prima? Lega- 
to, qui Bonnam (i) obtinebat, ut ' arceret transitu Batavos : 
: se cum exercitu tergis eorum haesuruin.' Et opprimi 
poterant, si hinc Hordeonius, inde Gallus, motis utrimque 
copiis, medios clausissent. Flaccus omisit inceptum, aliis- 
que litteris Galium monuit, ne terreret abeuntes. Unde 
suspicio, sponte Legatorum excitari bellum; cunctaque, 
quae acciderant aut metuebantur, non inertia militis, neque 
hostium vi, sed fraude ducum evenire. 

XX. Batavi, cum castris Bonnensibus propinquarent, 
praemisere, qui Herennio Gallo mandata cohortium expo- 
neret : ' nullum sibi bellum adversus Romanos, pro quibus 
* totiens bellassent. Longa atque inrita militia fessis patriae 
■ atque otii cupidinem esse. Si nemo obsisteret, innoxium 
4 iter fore ; sin arma occurrant, ferro viam inventuros/ 
Cunctantem Legatum milites perpulerant, * fortunam proe- 
? lii experiretur.' Tria millia legionariorum et tumultua- 
riae Belgarum cohortes, simul paganorum lixarumque igna- 
va, sed procax ante periculum, manus, omnibus portis eruni- 
punt, ut Batavos numero inpares circumfundant. Illi, 
veteres militias, (j) in cuneos congregantur, densr undique 
et frontem tergaque ac latus tuti. Sic tenuem aciem, nos- 
trorum perfringunt. Cedentibus Belgis, pellitur legio, et 
vallum portasque trepidi petebant. Ibi piurimum cladis : 
cumulatae corporibus fossae : nee caede tantum et vulneri- 
bus, sed ruina et suis plerique telis interiere. Yictores, 

i Brmna.1 now Bonn in the electorate of Cologne. 

j Veteres militice. Fam liar with, or skilful in war. Vetus is fre- 
quently used with this meaning. Vetus operis ac laboris. Scienter 
ceremoniarumque vetus. Feins regnand-u 



164 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. S22. 

coloniaAgrippinensiumvitata, nihil cetero in itinere hostile 
ausi, Bonnense prcelium excusabant ; tamquam petita pace, 
postquam negabatur, sibimetipsi consuluissent. 

XXI. Civilis, adventu veteranarum cohortium, justi jam 
exercitus ductor, sed consilii ambiguus et vim Romanam 
reputans, cunctos, qui aderant, in verba Vespasiani adigit : 
ttiittitque legatos ad duas legiones, quae, priore acie pulsae, 
in Vetera castra concesserant, ' ut idem sacrament am ac- 
4 ciperent.' Redditur responsum, ' neque proditoris, ne- 
' que hostium se consiliis uti. Esse sibi Vitellium Princi- 
4 pern, pro quo fi lem et arm a usque ad supremum spiritum 

* retenturos : proinde perfuga Batavus abitrum rerum Ro- 
1 manarum ne ageret, sed me.ritas, sceleris poenas exspec- 

* taret ' Quds ubi relata Civili, incensus ira, universam 
Batavorum gentem in arma rapit. Junguntur Bructeri 
Tencterique (/c) et excita nuntiis Germ am a ad prsedam. 
famamque. 

XXII. Adversus has belli concurrentis minas Legati le- 
gionum, Mummius Lupercus et Numisius Rufas. vallum 
murosque tirmabant. Sub versa I on gas p ;cis opera, (I) baud 
jprocui castris, in modum municipii exstructa, ne hostibus 
nsui forent. Sed parum provisum, ut copies in castra con* 
veherentur: rapi permisere. Ita paucis diebus per licen- 
tiam absumpta sunt, quae adversus necessitates in longum 
suffecissent. Civilis, medium agmen cum robore B.itavo- 
rumobtinens, utramque Rheni ripam, quo truculentior visu 
foret, Germanorum catervis complet, adsultante per cam* 
pos equite. Simut naves in adversum amnem agebantur. 
Hinc veteranarum cohortium signa, inde depromptae silvis 
lucisve ferarum imagines, ut cuique genti inire prcelium 
mos est, mixta belli civilis externique facie (m) obstupefe- 
cerant obsessos : et spem oppugnantium augebat amplitudo 
valli, quod, duabus legioaibus situm, vix quinque millia ar- 



k The Bructerians were a people of Germany situate in Westpha- 
lia. The Tencteri were also a people of Germany, See the man- 
ners of the Germans, s. 32. 

/ Longce pmis opera. These were buildings constructed for the 
servants," suttlers and those who followed ihe army. As they might 
favour the approach of the enemy they were destroyed. 

m Mixta belli civilis externique facie. For the Batavian cohorts 
had military standards after the manner of the Romans : but the 
other armies carried the heads and images of wild beasts for standards 



j. c. 69. HIST OR. LIB. Ql ARTUS. . 165 

matorum (?i) tuebantur. Sed lixarum multitudo, turbata 
pace illuc congregata, et bello ministra aderat. 

XXIII. Pars castrorum, in collem leniter exsurgens ; 
pars cequo adibatur : quippe, illis hibernis obsideri premi- 
que Germanias, Augustus crediderat: neque unquam id 
malorum, ut oppugnatum ultro legiones nostras venirent. 
Inde non loco, neque munimeutis labor additus : vis et ar- 
um satis placebant. Batavi Transrhenanique, quo discreta 
virtus manifestius spectare.ur, sibi quasque gens consis- 
tunt, eminus lacessentes. Post, ubi pleraque telorum 
turribus pinnisque mcenium inrita haerebant, (o) et desuper 
saxis vulnerabantur, clamore atque impetu invasere vallum, 
adpositis plerique scabs, alii per testudinem suorum : (j>) 
scandebanrque jam quidam, cum, gladiis et armoruin ineossu 
praecipitati, sudibus et pilis obruuntur, praeieroces initio et 
rebus secundis nimii. Sed turn praedae cupidine ad versa 
quoque tolerabant. Macbinas etiam, insolitum sibi, ausi: 
nee nulla ipsis solertia : periugae captivique docebant 
struere materias in modum pontis ; mox subjectis rotis pro- 
pellere : ut alii superstates, tarn qu am ex aggere, prcelia- 
rentur : pars intus occulti muros subruerent. Sed excussa 
balistis saxa stravere informe* opus : et crates vineasque 
parantibus adactaa tormentis ardentes bastas : ultroque ipsi 
oppugnatores ignibus petebantur : donee, desperata vi, 
verterent consilium ad moras, baud ignari paucorum dierum 
inesse alimenta et multum inbellis turbae. Simul ex ino- 
pia proditio et fluxa servitiorum tides ac fortuita belli spe- 
rabantur. 

XXIV. Flaccus interim, cognito castrorum obsidio, et 
missis per Gallias, qui auxilia concirent, lectos e legionibus 
Dillio Voculae, duodevicesimae legionis Legato, tradit, ut 
quam maximis per ripam itineribus celeraret. Ipse pavi- 
dus, invalidus corpore, mvisus militibus : neque enim am- 
bigue fremebant, ' emissas a Magontiaco Batavorum cohor- 
; tes, dissimulatos Civilis conatus, adsciri in societatem 
1 Germanos : non Primi Antonii, neque Muciani, ope Ves- 
■ pasianum magis adolevisse : aperta odia armaque palam 
< depelli : fraudem et dolum obscura, eoque inevitabiiia. 



n Amuttorum. This word is used to distinguish the soldiers from 
those who followed the camp as servants, Szc. 

o t ' (Lrtbant. Regius and Ryckianus prefer pendebant. 
p Per testudinem suorum. See Hist. hi. 27. 

16 



166 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. o. 822, 

* Civilem stare contra, struere aciem : Hordeonium e 
« cubiculo et lectulo jubere, quidquid bosti conducat. Tot 
4 armatas fortissimorum virorum manus unius senis valetu- 
4 dine regi. Quin potius, interfecto traditore, Jbrlunam 
4 virtutemque suam rnalo omine exsolvereni.' His inter 
so voeibus instinctos flammavere insuper adlata? a Vespa- 
siano littera?, quas Flaccus, quia occultari nequibant, pro 
eoncione recitavit : vinctosque, qui adtulerant, ad Vitelli- 
urn missit. 

XXV. Sic mitigatis anirais, Bonnam hiberna prima? le- 
gionis, ventum. Infensior illic miles, culpam cladis in 
Hordeonium vertebat : fc ejus jussu directam adversus, Ba~ 
6 tavos aciem, tamquam a Magontiaco legiones sequeren- 
*tur: ejusdem proditione caesos, nullis supervenientibus 

* auxiliis. Ignota baec ceteris exercitibus, neque Imperato- 

* ri slio nuntiari : cum adcursu tot provinciarum exsjingui 
'- repens periidia potuerit.' Hordeonius exemplaria omni- 
um litterarum, quibus per Gallias Britanniamque et Hispa- 
nias auxilia orabat, exercitui recitavit ; instituitque pessi- 
mum facialis, ut epistolae Aquiliieris legionum traderentur ; 
a quis ante militi, quam Ducibus, legebantur. Turn e se- 
ditiosis unum vinciri jubet, niagis usurpandi juris, (^) 
quam quia unius culpa foret. Motusque Bonna exercitus 
in coloniam Agrippinensem ; adfluentibus auxiliis Gallo- 
rum, qui primo rem Romanam enixe juvabant: mox, 
valescentibus Germanis, pleraeque civitates adversum 
nos armatas spe libertatis ; et, si exuissent servitium, cupi- 
dine imperitandi. Gliscebat iracundia legionum, pec ter- 
rorem unius militis vincula indiderant : quin idem ille ar- 
guebat ultro ' conscientiam Ducis : tamquam nuntius inter 

* Civilem Flaccumque falso crimine testis veri opprimere- 

* tur.' Conscendit tribunal Vocula mira constantia, pre- 
hensumque mi litem ac vociferantem ' duci ad supplicium* 
jussit, Et, dum mali pavent, optimus quisque jussis paru- 
ere. Exin consensu l Ducem Yoculam' poseentibus, Flac- 
cus summam rerum ci permisit. 

XX\ 7 I. Sed discordes animos multa efferebant : inopia 
gtipendii frumentiqne : et simul delectum tributaque Gal- 
lic adspernantes : Rhenus incognita illi caelo siccitate vix 
navium patiens ; arti commeatus ; dispositae per omnem 
ripam stationes, qua? Germanos vado arcerent ; eademque 

q Magi* vsicrpci7i(Ii juris, Supply eawtm 



j. c. &J. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTTS. 1U7 

tie caussa minus frugum, et plures, qui consuirieren£ 
Apud inperitos prodigtt loco accipiebatur ifcsa aquarum 
penuria, tamquam nos amnes quoque et Vetera Imperii 
mummenta deserereht : quod in pace ' fors,' seu ; natiira,' 
tunc ; fatum' et w ira Dei,' (r) vocabatur. Ingressis Novc- 
gium (<?) tertiatlecima legio conjungitur. Additus Voculce 
in partem curarum Hcrennius Galium, Legatus : nee ausi 
ad h ostein pergere, loco, cui Gelduba nomen est, castra 
fecere. [hi struenda acie, muniendo vallandoque et ceteris 
belli meditamentis militem firmabant. Utque preeda ad 
virtutem aecenderetur, in proximo? Gugernorum (t) pagos, 
qui societatom Chilis acceperabt, ductus a Vocula exercitus. 
Pars cum Hefennio Gallo permansit. 

XXVII. Forte navem haud procul castris. irumento 
gravem, cum per vada ba3?isset, Germani in suam rip am 
trahebant. Non tulit Gall us, niisitque subsidio cohortem. 
Auctus et Germanorum numcrus. paullatimque adgrcganti- 
bus se auxiliis, acie certatum. Germani mult a cum strage 
nostrorum navem abripiuut. Victi (quod turn in morem 
verter.it) non suam ignaviam, sed perhdiam Lcgati ctdpa- 
bant. Protractum e tentorio, scissa vesto, verberato cor- 
pore, ' quo pretio, quipus consciis, prodidisset exercitum,' 
dicere jubent. Redit in Hordeonium invidia. Ilium* auc- 
1 torem sceleris/ hunc ' miniftriim 1 vocant : donee, exi- 
tium minitantibus exterritus, proditionem et ipse Hordeo- 
nio objecit : vinctusque, adventu demum Voculae exsolvi- 
tur. Is postera die auctores seditionis morte adfecit. 
Tanta illi exercitur diversitas inerat licentia3 patienliseque. 
Haud dubie gregarius miles Vitellio fidus : splendidissimus 
quisque in Vespasianum proni : indescelerum ac supplicio- 

r The observation which Tacitus ha? compressed into a maxim, ia 
explained more fully by Cicero, de Divinaiionc* book ii. s. 27. Hav- 
ing mentioned a number of prodigies, he says ; The same occurrences 
which would pass unnoticed in time of peace, happening in time of 
war occasion great alarm: for men, under the influence of fear or 
danger, are frequently more credulous than usual, and consequently- 
more easily deceived. This may account for the portents and prodi- 
gies which so often occur in the Roman historians, who are sometimes 
accused of superstition, when they are giving a true picture of the 
public mind. See Hist. i. s 86. 

s Novesiumi a town in Bel^ic Gaul ; now Nuys. 

t The Gugerni were a people originally from G^imany, inhabiting 
part of the duchy of Cleves and GueMre, between the .Rhine nnd the 
Meuse. 



168 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 822. 

rum vices, et roixtus obsequio furor: ut contineri non pos- 
sent, qui puniri poterant. 

XXVIII. At Civilem immensis auctibus universa Ger- 
mania extollebat, societate nobilissimis obsidum firmata. 
Hie, ut cuique proximum, ' vastari Ubios Treverosque, et 
c aliam manum Mosam amnem transire,' jubet, ' ut Mennpi- 
' os et Morinos et extrema Galliarum quateret.' Actas 
utrobique praedae ; infestius in Ubiis, quod gens Germani- 
cae originis, ejurata patria, Rom morum nomen, ' Agrippi- 
* nenses,' vocare^uir. (u) Cassae cohortes eorum, in vico 
Marcoduro, incuriosius agentes, quia procul ripa aberant. 
Nee quievere Ubii,quominus pracdas e Germania peterent: 
primo inpune, dein circumventi sunt ; per omne id helium 
meliori usi tide, quarn fortuna. Contusis Ubiis, gravior et 
successu rerum ferocior Civilis, obsidium legionum urgebat : 
intentis custodiis, ne quis occultus nuntius venientis auxiiii 
peaetnjret. Machihas molemque operum Batavis delegat : 
Transrhenanos, ' p roe Hum' poscentis, ' ad scindendum val- 
£ lurn ire, detrusosque rediniegrare ceriamen,' jubet ; su- 
perante multitudine et faciii damuo : nee miem labori nox 
adtulit. 

XXIX. Congestis circum lignis accensisque, simul epti- 
lantes, ut quisque vino incaluerat, ad pugnam temeritate 
inani ferebantur. Quippe ipsorum tela per tenebras vana : 
Romani conspicuam Barbarorum aciem, et, si quis audacia 

•ant insignibus efiulgens, ad ictum destinabant. Intellectum 
id Civili : et, 4 restincto igne, misceri cuncta tenebris et 
; armis,' jubet. Turn vero strepitus dissoni, casus incerti, 
nequa feriendi, neque declinandi providentia. Unde cla- 
mor acciderat, circumagere corpora, tendere arens : nihil 
prodesse virtus, fors cuncta turbare et ignavorum saepe te- 
lis fortissimi cadere. Apud Germanos inconsulta ira : Ro- 
manus miies, periculorum gnarus, ferratas sudes, gravia 
saxa, non forte jaciebat. Ubi sonus molientium, aut adpo- 
sitae scalae hostem in manus dederant, propellere umbone. 



u The Ubii were a people from Germany, but transplanted by Au- 
gustus to the west side of the P^hine, under the conduct of Agrippa. 
Their capital was then for along time called Oppidum Ubioritr.% and, 
at last, changed by the Empress Agrippina to Colonia Agrippinensis ; 
now Cologne. 

Menapii, a people who inhabited that part of Belgia, now called 
Brabant and Flanders. 



j. f :. 69. HISTOR. LIB. ^UARTUS. i^ 

pilo sequi : multos, in moenia egressus, pugionibus fodere. 
Sic exhausta nocta, novarn acieni dies aperuit. 

XXX. Eduxerant Batavi turrim, duplici tabulato, quam, 
Praetorias porta? (r) (is a}quissimus locus) propinquantem, 
promoti contra validi asseres et incussae trabes perfregere, 
malta superstantium pernicie. Pugnatunique in perculsos 
subita et prospera eruptione. Simul a legionariis, peritia 
et arte praestantibus, plura struebantur. Praecipuum pave- 
rem intulit suspensum et nutans machinamentum, (ic) quo 
repente demisso, piaster suorum ora singuli pluresve hos- 
tium sublime rapti, verso pondere intra castra effundebantur. 
Civilis, omissa oppugnandi spe, rursus per otiutn adsidebat, 
nuntiis et promissis tidem legionum eonvellens. 

XXXI. Ha3c in Germania ante Cremonense proelinnr 
gesta, cujus eventum litterae Primi Antonii docuere, addito 
Ca3cina± edicto. (?) Et Praeiectus cohortis e victis, Alpi- 
nus Montanus, fortunam partium praesensfatebatur. Diver- 
si hinc motus animorum. Auxilia e Gallia, quis nee amor, 
nee odium in partes, militia sine adfectu, hortantibus Prce- 
fectis. statim a Vitellio desciscunt : vetus miles cunctaba- 
tur. Sed adigente Hordeonio Flacco, instantibus Tribunis, 
dixit sacramentum, non vultu, neque animo, satis adfirmans : 
et, cum cetera jurisjurandi verba conciperent, ; VespasianP 
nomen haesitantes, aut levi murmur e et plerumque silentio, 
transrnittebant. 

XXXII. Lectae deinde pro concione epistolae Antonii ad 
Civilem, suspiciones militum inritavere, tamquam ad sociuni 
partium scriptae.et de Germanico exercitu hostiliter. Mox 
adlatis Geldubam in castra nuntiis, eadem dicta fataque : 
et missus cum mandatis Montanus ad Civilem, ' ut absistc- 
'retbello: neve externa armis falsis velaret. Si Vespa- 
i sianum juvare adgressus foret, satis factum eceptis.' Ad 
ea Civilis primo callide : post, ubi videt Montanum pra^fe- 
rocem ingenio, paratumque in res novas, orsus a questu pe- 



i». Prcc'orice portai. The form of the Roman camp was a square. 
It had four gates; one on each side. The one nearest the enemy was 
called Porta? PriPtoricR, the one opposite this, Decum&ncz. The 
other two were called Porta principalis dextra and principalis si- 
nistra. 

w This extraordinary engine was invented by Archimedes,, the 
celebrated geometrician, during the siege of S}Tacuse. which was 
conducted by Marcellus. See Polybius, book viii. 

x Addito Ccecince edicto. Because he wag consul. 
16 * 



HO Q. CORN. TACltl. A. i/.c. 8fe 

riculisque, quae per quinque et viginti annos in castris Ro- 
tnanis exhausisset, • Egfegium,' inqutt, ' pretium laboris 
' recepi, necem fratris (y) et vincula mea et saevissimas hu- 
'jus exercitus voces, quibus ad supphcium petitus,jure 
4 gentium poenas reposco : vos autem Treveri, cseteraeque 
* servientium animae, quod premium effusi totiens sanguinis 
4 exspectatis, nisi ingratam militiam, inmortalia tributa, vir- 
' gas, secures et dominorum ingenia ? En ego Praefectus 
' unius cohortis et Canninefates Batavique, (z) exigua Gal- 
1 liarum portio, vana ilia castrorum spatia excidimus, vel 
' f septa ferro farneque premiums : denique ausos aut liber- 
1 tas sequetur, aut victi iidem erimus.' Sic accensum, sed 
6 molliora referre' jussurn, dimittit. Ille, ut inritus lega- 
tions, rediit, cetera dissimulans, quae mox erupere. 

XXXIII. Civilis, parte copiarum retenta, veteranas co* 
hortes, et quod e Germanis maxime promptum, adversus 
Voculam exercitumque ejus mittit : Julio Maximo et Clau- 
dio Victore, sororis suae rilio, ducibus, Rapiunt in transi- 
tu hiberna alae, Asciburgii (a) sita : adeoque inprovisi cas- 
tra involavere, ut non adioqui, non pandere aciam Vocula 
potuerit. Id solum, ut in tumultu, monuit, ' subsignano mi- 
' lite media firmafe :' auxilia passim circumfusa sunt. 
-Eques prorupit, exceptusque composite hostium ordinibus, 
terga in suos vertit. Caedes inde, non proelium. Et Ner- 
viorum cohortes, metu seu perfidia, latera nostrorum nuda- 
vere. Sic ad legiones perventum : quae, amissis signis, in- 
tra vallum sternebantur; cum repente novo auxilio fortuna 
pugnae mutatur. V r asconum (b) lectae a Galba cohortes ac 
turn accita3. dum castris propinquant, audito prceliantium 
chtmore, intentos hostes a tergo invadunt, latioremque, 
quam pro numero, terrorem faciunt : aliis a Novesio, aliis 
a iVIagontiaco, universas copias advenisse credentibus. Is 
error Romanis addit animos, et, dum alienis virihus confi- 
dunt. suas recepere. Fortissimus quisque e Batavis. quan- 
tum peditum erat, funduntur : eques evasit cum signis cap- 
tivisque, quos prima acie conripuerant. Cagsorum eo die. 



y Necem fratris. See this book, s. 13. 

s b xigua GaJHannn portio, The Canninefates and the Bata- 
vians, were originally Germans, but emigrated into Gaul. 

a Asciburgium^ a citadel on the Rhine, where the Romans sta- 
tioned a garrison. 

b The Vascones inhabited the country of Navarre- 



r. c. 69. H1ST0R. LIB. QUARTUS. 171 

in partibus nostris, major numeruset inbellior ; e Germa- 
nic ipsa robora. 

XXXIV. Dux nterque, pari culpa meritus adversa, pros- 
peris defuere. Nam Civilis, si majoribus eopiis instruxis- 
-et aciem, cireumiri a tarn paueis cohortibus nequis^et, cas- 
traque perrupta excidisset. Vocuia nee adventum hostium 
exploravit, eoque simul egressus victusque : dem victcrise 
partita coniisus,tritis frustra diebus, castra in he-stem movit : 
quern si statim inpellere, cursumque rerum seqm maturas- 
set, solvere obsidium legionum eodem inpetu potuit. Ten- 
taverat interim Civilis obsessorum animos, tamquun perdi- 
ta? apud Romr.nos res, et *uis victoria provenisset. Circum- 
ferebantur signa vexillaque : ostentati etiam captivi : ex 
qui bus unus, egregium facinus c usus, clara voce gesta pate- 
fecit, confossus illico a Germanis ; unde major indici tides. 
Simul vastatione incendiisque flagrantium viilarum, venire 
victorem exercitum, intelligebatur. 'In conspectu castro- 
1 rum constitui signa, fossamque et vallum circumdari,' 
Voculajubet : ' depositis inpeciimentis sarcinisque, expediti 
1 certarent. 5 Hinc in ducem clamor pugnam poscentium ; 
et minari adsueverant. Ne tempore quidem ad ordinandam 
aciem capto, incompositi fessique pi ceiium sumpsere : nam 
Civilis aderat, non minus vitiis hostium, quam virtute suo- 
rum, fretus. Varia apud Romanos fortuna, et sediticsissi- 
mus quisque ignavus : quidam, recentis victoria? memores, 
retinere locum, ferire hostem, seque et proximos hortari : 
et, redintegrata acie, manus ad obsessos tendere, ' ne tem- 
• pori deessent.' Ilii, cuncta e muris cernentes, omnibus 
portis prorumpunt. Ac forte Civilis lapsu equi prostratus, 
credita per utrumque exercitum iama, ' vulneratum aut in- 
; terfeetum,' inmane quantum snis pavoris, et hostibus ala- 
eritatis, indidit. 

XXXV. Sed Vocuia, omissis fugientiumtergis, vallum tur- 
resque castrorum augebat, tamquam rursus obsidium inmine- 
ret: conrupta totiens victoria, non falso suspectus bellum 
malle. Nihil a?que exercitus nostros, quam egestas copiarum, 
frtigabat. Inpedimenta legionum cum inbelli turba Novesi- 
um missa, ut inde, terrestri itinere, frumentum adveherent : 
(c) nam flumine hostes potiebantur. Primum agmen securum 

c Inpedimenl a— frumentum adveherent. His baggage-waggotts, 
with all his useless people, were sent to Noyesium, with the intent 
that a supply of provisions for the eamp should be brought thence by 
Fand. 



172 C. CORN. TAC1T1. a. u, c. 822« 

incessit, nondum satis firmo Civile : qui, ubi ; rursus mis- 
1 sos Novesium fruraentatores, datasque in presidium co- 
4 hortes, velut multa pace ingredi accepit,' rarum apnd sig- 
na militem, arma in vehiculis, cunctos licentia vagos, compo- 
site invadit : praemissis, qui pontes et viarum angusta in- 
siderent : pugnatum longo agmine et incerto Marte, douec 
proelium nox diritneret. Cohortes Geldubam perrexere, 
manentibus, ut fuerant, castris, quae relictorum illicmilitum 
praesidio tenebantur. Non erat dubium, quantum in re- 
gressis discriminis adeundum foret, frumentatoribus onus- 
tis perculsisque. Addit exercitui suo Vocula mille delec- 
tos e quinta et quintadecima legionibus, apud Vetera obses- 
sis, indomitum militem et Ducibus infensum. Plurcs, quam 
jussum erat, profecti, palam in agmine fremebant, * non se 
4 ultra famem, insidias Legatorum, toleraturos.' At, qui 
remauserant, ' desertos se, abducta parte legionum/ que- 
rebantur. Duplex hinc seditio ; aliis revocantibus Vocu- 
lam, aliis redire in castra abnuentibus. 

XXXVI. Interim Civilis Vetera circumsedit. Vocula 
Geldubam atque inde Novesium concessit. Civilis capit 
Geldubam. Mox, baud procul Novesio, equestri proelio 
prospere certavit. Sed miles secundis adversisque perin- 
de in exitium Ducum accendebatur. Et adventu quintano- 
rum quintadecimanorumque auctaB legiones, ' donativum' 
exposcunt, comperto pecuniam a Vitellio missam. Nee 
diu cunctatus Hordeonius nomine* 1 Vespasiani dedit. Idque 
praecipuum fait seditionis alimentum. Effusi in luxum et 
epulas, et nocturnos coetus, veterem in Hordeonium iram 
renovant : nee ullo Legatorum Tribunorumve obsistere 
auso, (quippe omnem pudorem nox ademerat) protractum 
e cubili interficiunt. Eadem in Voculam parabantur, nisi 
servili habitu, per tenebras, ignoratus evasisset. TJbi, se- 
dato inpetu, metus rediit ; Centuriones cum epistolis ad ci- 
vitates Galliarum misere, auxilia ac stipendia oraturos. 

XXXVII. Ipsi, ut est vulgus sine rectore praeceps, pa- 
vidum, socors, adventante Civile, raptis temere armis ac 
statim omissis, in fugam vertuntur. Res adversae discordi- 
am peperere, iis, qui e superiore exercitu erant, eaussam 
suam dissociantibus. (c?) Vitellii tamen imagines, in cas- 
tris et per proximas Belgarum civitates, repositae, cum jam 

d Caussam suam dissociantibus. Because they preferred Vespa- 
sian 



j. c. 6f>. HISTOR. LIB. QCARTUS. 173 

Viiellius occidisset. Dein mutati in pcenitentb>m primani 
quartanique et duodevicesimani, Yoculam sequuntur : a pud 
quern resumpto Vespasiani sacramento, ad liberandum Ma- 
goDtiaci obsidium ducebantur. Discesserant obsessores, 
rnixtus ex Cattis, Usipiis, Mattiaeis (e) exercitiis, satietate 
prseda?, nee incruenti. In via dispersos et nescios miles 
noster invaserat. Quin et loricam vail urn que per fines suos 
Treveri fcfruxere, magnisque invicem cladibns cum Germa- 
nis certabant, donee egregia erga Populum Romanum me- 
rita mox rebelles feedarent. 

XXXVIII. Interea Vespasianus iterum ac Titus Consu- 
latum absentes inierunt ; ma?sta et raultiplici metu suspen- 
se civitate, qua3, super instantia mala, falsos pavores inciue- 
rat : ' descivisse Africam : (f) res novas moliente L. Pi- 
* sone.' Is prseerat provincial nequaquam turbidus inge- 
nio : sed, quia naves saevitia biemis prohibebantur, vulgus, 
alimenta in dies mercari solitum, cui una ex Republica an- 
nonae cura, (g) clausum litus, retineri commeatus, dum ti- 
met, credebat ; augentibus famam Yitcllianis, qui sturfium 
partium nondum posuerant ; ne victoribus quidem ingrato 
rumore, quorum cupiditatcs, externis quoque bellis inex- 
plebiles, nulla umquam civilis victoria satiavit. 

XXXIX. Kalendis Januariis in Senatu, quem Julius 
Frontinus, (h) Praetor urbanus, vocaverat.Legatis exerciti- 
busque ac Pcegibus, ' laudes gratesque' decretae : et Tertio 
Juliano Praetura, ■ tamquam transgredientem in partes Ves- 
' pasiani legionem deseruisset,' ablata, ut in Plotium Gri- 
phum transterretur. Hormo dignitas Eqnestris data. Et 
mox, ejurante Frontino, Caesar Domitianns Praeturam cepit. 
Ejus nomen epistolis edictisque praeponebatur, vis penes 
Mucianum erat : nisi quod pleraque Domitianns, instig;.r>ti- 
bus amicis, aut propria Jibidine, audebat. Sed praseipuus 
Muciano metus e Primo Antonio Varoque Arrio : quos re- 



e Catti, a people of Germany, who inhabited part of the country 
now called Hesse, from the mountains of Hartz to the Weset and the 
Rhine. Usipii, a people of Germany, who, after their expuis;en by 
the Catti i settled near Paderborn. jMattwci. a branch of the Calti. 
Their*capital town was Maitium, supposed to be 'Marfidifrg, in Hesse. 

f .Africam. The province of Africa, now the kingdom of Tunis. 

g Cui una ex republica an nonet cur a. Of all that concerns the 
republic, the price of grain is their only care. 

- h Frontinus, being city-praetor, convened the Senate on the first 
of January, in the absence of the consuls, Vespasian and his son Titue. 



174 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 823. 

centes, clarosque rernm flmia ac militum studiis, etiam po- 
pulus fovebat, quia in neminein ultra aciem saevierant. Et 
ferebatur Antonius Scribonianum Crassum, (t) egregiis ma- 
joribus et fraterua imagine fulgent em, ad capcssendarn Rem- 
publicam hortatus : haud defutura consciorum manu, ni 
Scribonianus abnuisset, ne paratis quidem conrumpi faciiis, 
adeo metuens incerta. Igitur M ucianus, quia propalam op- 
primi Antonius nequibat, multis in Senatu laudibus cuniu- 
latum, secretis promissis onerat, c citeriorem Hispaniam' 
ostentans, * discessu Cluvii Rufi vacuam ;' simul amicis 
ejus Tribunatus Praefecturasque largitur. Dein, postquam 
inanem animum spe et cupidine inpleverat, vires abolet : 
dimissa in hiberna lcgione septima, cujus tlagiantissimus in 
Antonium amor. Et tertia legio, familiaris Arrio Varo mi- 
les, in Syriam remissa. Pars exercitus in Germnnias du- 
cebatur. Sic egesto, quidquid turbid urn, redit urbi sua for- 
ma leges que et muni a Magistratuum. 

XL, Quo die Senatum ingressus e£t Doinitianus, c de ah- 
* sentia patris fratrisque ac juventa sua' pauca et modica 
disseruit, decorus habitu : et, ignotis adhuc moribus, cre- 
bra oris confusio pro modestia accipiebatur. Referente 
Caesare, * de restituendis Galbae honoribus,' censuit Cur- 
tius Montanus, * ut Pisonis quoque mernoria celebraretnr.' 
Patres utrnmque jussere : de Pisone inritum fait. Turn 
sorte ducti, i per quos redderentur bello rapta, quique sera 
4 legum, (/) vetustate deiapsa, noscerent figerentque, et 
1 fastos, adirlatione temporum foedatos, exonerarent, rao- 
8 dumque publicis inpensis facerent.' Redditur Tertio Ju- 
liano Praetura, postquam cognitus est ad Vespasianum con- 
fugisse : Gripho honor mansit. Repeti inde cognitionem 
inter Musonium Rufum etP. Celerem placuit, damnatusque 
Publius et Sorani manibus satisfactum. Insignis publica se- 
veritate die ne privatim quidem laude caruit. Justum judi- 
cium explesse Musonius videbatur : diversa farna Deme- 
trio, (fc) Cynicam sectam prof'esso ; quod manifestum re urn 
ambitiosius, quam honestius, defendisset. Ipsi Publio ne- 

i Scribonianus Crassus was the brother of Piso, whom Galba 
adopted. Hist. i. s. 15 and 16. 

j JEra legum. The Roman laws were engraved on tablets of 
brass, and exposed in public places, to be read by the people. 

k Demetrius attended Thrasea in his last moments. Annals, xvi. 
s. 36. And now the same man defends the prosecutor of Soranns: 
such was the consistency of a philosopher by profession.. 



*. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 17o 

que animus in periculis, neque oratio suppeditavit. Signo 
ultionis in adcusatores dato, petit a Caesare Junius Mauri- 
cus, (/) * ut commentariorum Frincipalium potestatem Se~ 

* natui laceret, per quos noseeret, quern quisque adcusandum 
' poposcisset. Coiisulendum tali super re Principenv 
respondit. 

XLI. Senatus, inchoantibus primoribus, jusjurandum 
concepit quo certatim omnes Magistratus, ceteri ut senteu- 
tiam rog abantur, i Deos testes' advocabant, c nihil ope sua 
% factum, quo cujusquam salus lgederetur, neque se praemi- 

* um, aut honorem, ex calamitate civium cepisse :' trepidis 
et verba jurisjurandi per varias artes mutantibus, quis fiagi- 
tii conscientia inerat. Probabant religionem Patres, per- 
jurium arguebant. (m) Eaque velut censura in Sariolenum 
Voculam et Nonium Actianum et Cestium Severum acerri- 
me incubuit, crebris apud Neronem delationibus famosos. 
Sariolenum et recens crimen urgebat, quod apud Vitellium 
molitus eadem foret : nee destitit Senatus manus intentare 
Voculre, donee curia excederet. Ad Pactium Africanum 
transgressi, eum quoque proturbant : tamquam Neroni Scri- 
bonios fratres : (?i) concordia opibusque insignes, ad exi- 
tium monstravisset. Africanus neque fateri audebat, neque 
abnuere poterat : in Vibium Crispum, cujus interrogationi- 
bus fatigabatur, ultro conversus, miscendo quee defenders 
nequibat, societate culpae invidiam declinavit. 

XLI I. Magnam eo die pietatis eloquentiaeque famam Vip- 
3tanus Messala adeptus est, nondum Senatoria aetate, ausus 
pro fratre, iEquilio Regulo, (o) deprecari. Regulum sub- 
versa Crassorum et Orphiti domus insummum odium extu- 
lerat. Sponte ex S.C. (p) adcusatiouem subisse juvenis ad- 

l See the praise of Mauricue in Pliny the younger, book iv. epist. 
22. Also life of Agricola, s. 45. 

m Probtibanl rrhgionrm —argutbant. Murphy translates this sen- 
tence thus : The remorse of scrupulous minds the fathers approved, 
but equivocal swearing they condemned as perjury. 

n The two Scribonii, whose names were Rufus and Proculus, were 
put to death by Nero, at the instigation, of Factius Africanus, A, U. C. 
820. 

o Regulus was a practised informer. Pliny calls him Bipedum 
nequissimus. Book i. Epist, 5. 

p Sponte ex stnaluzconsullo. Barbou thinks this expression in- 
correct, and Colerus and Gruterus suppose that the two last words 
should be expunged. Brit might he not have voluntarily offered t» 
institute the prosecution, and afterwards have been appointed, by 
decree of t4ie Senate, their agent tomnimge it : 



17G C. CORN. TAG1TI. a. u. c. 823. 

modum, nee depellendi periculi, sed in spem potentiae vide- 
batur. Et Sulpicia Praetextata, Crassi uxor, quaiuorque li- 
beri,si cognosceret Senatus, ultores aderant. Igitur Mes- 
sala non caussam, neqae reuui tueri, sed periculis fratris 
semet opponens, flexerat quosdam. Occurrit truci ora- 
tioni Curtius M on tan us, eo usque progressus, ut, ' post cae- 
' dem Galbae, datam interfectori Pisonis pecuniam a Regulo, 
4 adpetitumque morsu Pisonis caput,' objectaret. ' Hoc 

* certe,' inquit, ' Nero non coegit, nee dignitatem, aut salu- 

* tem, ilia saevitia redimisti. Sane toleremus istorum de- 

* /ensiones, qui perdere alios, quam periclitari ipsi, malue- 

* runt. Te securum reliquerat exsul pater, et divisa inter 

* creditores bona, nondum honorum capax aetas : nihil quod 

* ex te concupisceret Nero, nihil quod timeret : libidine 
; sanguinis et hiatu praerniorum ignoturn adhuc ingenium, et 
' nullis defensionibus expertum, caede nobili inbuisti : cum 

* ex funere Reipubiicae raptis Consularibus spoliis, septua- 

* gies sestertio (q) saginatus et sacerdotio fulgens, innoxios 

* pueros, inlustres senes, conspicuas feminas eadem ruina 
w prosterneres : cum segnitiam Neronis incusares, quod 
; per singulas domos seque et delatores fatigaret : posse uni- 

* versum Senatum una voce subverti. Retinete, Patres con- 
c scripti, et reservate hominem tarn expediti consilii, ut om- 
' nis aetas instructa sit, et quomodo senes nostri Marcellum^ 
4 Crispum, juvenes Regulum, imitentur. Invenit etiam 
6 asmuios infelix nequitia : quid si floreat vigeatque ? Et 

* quam adhuc Quaestorium offendere non audemus, Praeto- 
; rium et Consularem visuri sumus ? An Neronem extre- 

* mum dominorum putatis ? Idem crediderant, qui Tibe- 
' rio, qui Caio, superstites fuerunt : cum interim intestabi- 
' lior et saevior exortus est. Non timemus Vespasianum : 
c ea Piincipis aetas, ea moderatio. Sed diutius durant ex- 
' empla, quam mores, (r) Elanguimus, Patres conscripti, 
' nee jam iile Senatus sumus, qui, occiso Nerone, delatores 
6 et ministros more majorum puniendos flagitabat. Opti- 

* mus est, post malum Principem, dies primus.' 

XL1II. Tanto cum adsensu Senatus auditus est Monta- 



q Sepiurtffies sestertio. When a numeral adverb is joined to ses- 
tertium, it means so many hundred thousand sestertii. 

/ Diutius durant exempla, quam mores. Bad examples exert a 
more lastmg influence than virtuous actions. Lipsius supposes that 
amtores should be substituted for mores. 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 177 

nus, ut spem caperet Helvidius, (s) posse etiam Marcellum 
prosterni. Igitur a laude Cluvii Rufi orsus, qui, perinde 
dives et eloquentia clarus, nulli umquam sub Nerone peri- 
culum facessisset, crimine simul exemploque Eprium urge- 
bat: ardentibus Patrum animis : quod ubi sensit Marcellus, 
velut excedens curia : ' Imus,' inquit, 6 Prisce, et relinqui- 

* mus tibi Senatum tuum : regna, praesente Caesare.' Se- 
quebatur Vibius Crispus : ambo infensi vultu diverso. 
Marcellus minacibus oculis, Crispus renidens : donee ad- 
cursu amicorum retraherentur. Cum glisceret certamen, 
hinc multi bonique, inde pauci et validi, pertinacious odiis 
tenderent, consumptus per discordiam dies. 

XLIV. Proximo Senatu, inchoante Caesare, ' de abolen- 
1 do dolore iraque, et priorum temporum necessitatibus,' 
censuit Mucianus prolixe pro adcusatoribus : simul eos, 
qui cceptam, dein omissam, actionem repeterent, monuit 
sermone molli et tamquam rogaret. Patres cceptatam H- 
bertatem, postquam obviam itum, omisere. Mucianus, ne 
sperni Senatus judicium, et cunctis sub Nerone admissis 
data inpunitas videretur, Octavium Sagittam (t) et Antistium 
Sosianum, Senatorii ordinis, egressos exsilium, in easdem 
insulas redegit. Octavius Pontiam Postumiam, stupro cog- 
nitam et nuptias suas abnuentem, inpotens amoris interfece- 
rat; Sosianus pravitate morum multis exitiosus. Ambo 
gravi Senatusconsulto damnati pulsique, quamvis concesso 
aliis reditu, in eadem poena retenti sunt. Nee ideo lenita 
erga Mucianum invidia. Quippe Sosianus ac Sagitta viles, 
etiam si reverterentur : adcusatorum ingenia et opes et 
exercita malis artibus potentia timebantur. 

XLV. Reconciliavit paullisper studia Patrum habita in 
Senatu cognitio secundum veterem morem. Manlius Pa- 
truitus, Senator, ' pulsatum se in colonia Senensi (u) ccetu 

* multitudinis et jussu Magistratuum,' querebatur : c nee 
6 finem injuriae hie stetisse : planctum et lamenta et supre- 
6 morum imaginem praesenti sibi circumdata cum contume- 
' liis et probris, quae in Senatum universum jacerentur.^ 
Vocati, qui arguebantur. Et, cognita caussa, in convictos 
vindicatum. Additumque senatusconsultum, quo Senensium 



5 Helvidius, See this book. s. 5 and 6. 

t The murder, committed by Octavius Sabinus Sagitta, is related^ 
more fully, Annals, xiii. s. 44. 

zi Senensis Colonia, now Sienna, in Tuscany. 

17 



178 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 823. 

plebes modestiae admoneretur. Iisdem diebus Antonius 
Flamma Cyrenensibus daranatur (y) lege repetundarum, et 
exsilio obssevitiam. Inter quae militaris seditio prope exarsit. 

XLVI. Praetorianam militiam repetebant a Vitellio di- 
missi, pro Vespasiano congregati : et inlectus in eandem 
spem, e legionibus miles promissa stipendia flagitabat : ne 
Vitelliani quidem sine multa caede pelli poterant ; sed in- 
rnensa pecunia dicebatur, qua tanta vis hominum retinenda 
erat. Ingressus castra Mucianus, quo rectius stipendia sin- 
gulorum spectaret, suis cum insignibus armisque victores 
constituit, modicis inter se spatiis discretes. Turn Vitel- 
liani, quos apud Bovillas in deditionera acceptos memora- 
vimus, ceterique per urbem et urbi vicina conquisiti produ- 
cuntur prope intecto corpore. ' Eos' Mucianus ' diduci, 
6 et Germanicum Britannicumque militem, ac si qui aliorum 
6 exercituum, separatim adsistere,' jubet. Illos primus 
statim adspectus obstupefecerat : cum ex diverse velut 
aciem, telis et armis trucem, semet clausos nudosque et in- 
luvie deformes, adspicerent. Ut vero hue illuc distrahi 
coepere, metus per omnes et praecipua Germanici militis 
formido, tamquam ea separatione ad csedem destinarentur : 
prensare commanipularium pectora, cervicibus innecti, 
suprema oscula petere, ' ne desererentur soli, neu, in pari 
6 caussa, disparem fortunam paterentur :' modo Mucianum, 
modo absentem Principem, postremum ccelum ac Deos ob- 
testari : donee Mucianus, ' cunctos ejusdem sacramenti, 
c ejusdem Imperatoris milites 5 adpellans, falso timori obvi- 
am iret. Namque et victor exercitus clamore lacrimas 
eorum juvabat. Isque finis ilia die. Paucis post diebus, 
adloquentem Domitianum firmati jam excepere. Sper- 
nunt oblatos agros : ' militiam et stipendia' orant. Preces 
erant, sed quibus contradici non posset : igitur in Praetori- 
um accepti. Dein, quibus aetas et justa stipendia, dimissi 
cum honore, alii ob culpam ; sed carptim ac singuli : quo 
tutissimo remedio consensus multitudinis extenuatur. 

XLVII. Ceterum verane pauperie, an uti videretur, ac- 
tum in Senatu, ' ut sexcenties sestertium (w) a privatis mu- 
* tuam acciperetur.' Praepositusque ei curae Poppaeus 
Silvanus : nee multo post necessitas abiit, sive omissa si- 



v Cyrenensibus damnatur. Those are said to condemn [the de- 
fendant, who bring about his condemnation by the judges. 
w StoccMits Sestertium. See this book, s. 42, note (?.) 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 179 

mulatio. Abrogati inde, legem ferente Domitiano, Consu- 
latus, quos Vitellius dederat. Funusque Censorium (x) 
Flavio Sabino ductutn : magna documenta instabilis Fo?tu- 
nae« summaque et ima miscentis. 

XL VIII. Sub idem tempus L. Piso Proconsul interfici- 
tur. Ea de caede quam verissime expediam, si pauca su- 
pra repetiero, ab initio caussisque talium facinorum non 
absurda. Legio in Africa auxiliaque tutandis Imperii iini- 
bus, sub Divo Augusto Tiberioque Principibus, Proconsuli 
parebant Mox C. Caesar, turbidus animi, ac M. Silanum, 
obtinentem Africam, metuens, ablatam Proconsuli legionem, 
misso in earn rem Legato tradidit : aequatus inter duos be- 
neficiorum numerus et, mixtis utriusque mandatis, discor- 
dia quaesita, auctaque pravo certamine. (y) Legatorum 
vis adolevit diuturnitate officii, vel quia minoribus major 
aemulandi cura ; Proconsulum splendidissimus quisque se- 
curitati magis, quam potential consulebant. 

XLIX. Sed turn legionem in Africa regebat Valerius 
Festus, sumptuosae adolescentiae. neque modica cupiens, et 
adfinitate Vitellii anxius. Is crebris sermonibus tentave- 
ritne Pisonem ad res novas, an tentanti restiterit, incertum ; 
quoniam secreto eorum nemo adfuit, et, occiso Pisone, pie- 
rique ad gratiam interfectoris inclinavere. Nee ambigitur, 
provinciam et militem alienato erga Vespasianum animo fu- 
isse : et quidam e Vitellianis, urbe profugi, ostentabant Pi- 
soni ' nutantes Gallias, paratam Germaniam, pericula ipsius 
1 etin pace suspecta tutius bellum/ Inter quae Claudius 
Sagitta, Praefectus alae Petrinae, prospera navigatione prae- 
venit Papirium, Centurionem, a Muciano missum, adseve- 
ravitque ' mandata interticiendi Pisonis Centurioni data. 
* Cecidisse Galerianum, consobrinum ejus generumque. 
a Unam in audacia spem salutis. Sed duo itinera audendi ; 
ft seu mallet statim arma, seu petita navibus Gallia, Ducem 
' se Vitellianis exercitibus ostenderet.' Nihil ad ea moto 
Pisone, Centurio a Muciano missus, ut portum Carthaginis 
adtigit, magna voce laeta Pisoni omina, tamquam Principi, 



x Funus censorium. See Annals, iv. \5. 

y Beneficiorum numerus. Lipsius supposes benejicia to mean 
military promotion. Numerus signifies right, privilege. 

Diuturnitate officii. An imperial lieutenant continued in oiiice 
until recalled by the Emperor ; while a proconsul held his onice ior 
four years only. 



180 C. CORN. TACITL a. v. c. 823. 

continuare ; obvios et subitae rei miraculo adtonitos, ut ea- 
dem adstreperent, hortari : vulgus credulum, ruere in fo- 
rum : < praesentiam Pisonis' exposcere. Gaudio clamori- 
busque cuncta miscebant, indiligentia veri et adulandi libi- 
dine. Piso, indicio Sagittae, vel insita modestia, non in 
publicum egressus est, neque se studiis vulgi permisit. 
Centurionemque percunctatus, postquam, ■ quabsitum sibi 
' crimen caedemque,' comperit, 8 animadverti in euro' jus- 
sit, haud perinde spe vitae, quam ira in percussorem, quod 
idem ex interfectoribus Clodii Macri, (r) cruentas Legati 
sanguine manns ad caedem Proconsulis retulisset. Anxio 
deindeedicto Carthaginiensibus increpitis, ne solita quidem 
munia usurpabat, clausus intra domum, ne qua motus novi 
eaussa vel forte oriretur. 

L. Sed, ubi Festo consternatio vulgi, Centurionis suppli- 
cium, veraque et falsa, more famae, in majus innotuere, 
equites in necem Pisonis mittit Illi raptim vecti, obscuro 
adbuc cceptae lucis, domum Proconsulis inrumpunt, destric- 
tis gladiis : et magna pars Pisonis ignari, quod Poenos aux- 
iliares Maurosque in earn caedem delegerat : haud procul 
cubiculo, obvium forte servum, • quisnam et ubi esset 
4 Piso V interrogavere. Servus egregio mendacio, ' se 
i Pisonem esse/ respondit : ac statim obtruncatur : nee 
multo post Piso interficitur. Namque aderat, qui-nosceret, 
Bebius Massa, (a) e Procuratoribus Africae, jam tunc Opti- 
mo cuique exitiosus, et in caussas malorum, quae mox tuli- 
mus, saepius rediturus. Festus Adrumeto, (b) ubi specu- 
kbundus substiterat, ad legionem contendit. Praefectom- 
que castrorum, Cetronium Pisanum, vinciri jussit, proprias 
©t> simultates : sed \ Pisonis satellitem' vocabat, militesqi*e 
et Centuriones quosdam puniit, alios praemiis adfecit : neu- 
trum ex merito, sed ut oppressisse bellum crederetur* 
Mox (Eensium, Leptitanorumque (c) discordias componit, 
quae, raptu frugum et pecorum inter agrestes, modicis 
principiis, jam per arma atque acies exercebantur. Nam 
populus CEensis, multitudine inferior, Garamantas excive- 
rat, gentem indomitam et inter adcolas latrociniis fecundam. 

3 Clodii Macri. See Hist. i. 7. 

a For more of Bebius Massa, see Life of Agric. 9. 45. 

b Adrumetum, a Phoenician colony in Africa. 

c CEenses, a people of Africa, who occupied the country between 
the two Syrtes and the Mediterranean. Their chief town was called 
Oea t now Tripoli. Leptis, now Lebeda, was near Oea* 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 181 

Unde arctae Leptitanis res, lateque vastatis agris intra moe- 
nia trepidabant : donee, interventu cohortium alarumque, 
fusi Garamantes et recepta omnis prada, nisi quam vagi per 
inaccessa mapalium ulterioribus vendiderant. 

LI. At Vespasiano, post Cremonensem pugnam et pros- 
peros undique nuntios, ' ceeidisse Vitellium,' multi cujus- 
que ordinis, pari audacia fortunaque hibernum mare ad- 
gressi, nuntiavere. Aderant legati Regis Vologesi, ' quad- 
* raginta Parthorum equitum millia 5 oiferentes. Magnifi- 
cum laetumque, tantis sociorum auxiliis ambiri, neque indi- 
gere. Gratiae Vologeso actae, mandatumque, ' ut legatos 
4 ad Senattim mitteret et pacem esse sciret.' Vespasianus, 
in Italiam resque urbis intentus, adversam de Domitiano fa- 
mam accipit : ' tamquam terminos aetatis et concessa filio 
k egrederetur.' Igitur validissimam exercitus partem Tito 
tradit, ad reliqua Judaici belli perpetranda. 

LII. Titum, antequam digrederetur, multo apud patrem 
sermone orasse dicebatur, s ne criminantium nuntiis temere 
accenderetur : integrumque se ac placabilem filio prae- 
staret. Non legiones, non classes, perinde firma imperii 
munimenta, quam numerum liberorum. Nam amicos 
tempore, fortuna, cupidinibus aliquando, aut erroribus, 
inminui, transferri, desinere : suum cuique sanguinem 
indiscretum, (d) sed maxime Principibus : quorum pros- 
peris et alii fruantur, adversa ad junctissimos pertineant : 
ne fratribus quidem mansuram concordiam, ni parens ex- 
emplum prsebuisset.' Vespasianus, haud ssque Domitia- 
no mitigatus, quam Titi pietate gaudens, * bono esse animo' ju- 
bet ' belloque et armis Rempublicam adtollere : sibi pacem 
6 domumque curse fore. Turn celerrimas navium, frumen- 
to onustas, saevo adhuc mari committit. Quippe tanto dis- 
crimine urbs nutabat, ut decern haud amplius dierum fru- 
mentum in horreis fuerit, cum a Vespasiano commeatus sub- 
venere. 

LIII. Curamrestituendi capitolii in L. Vestinum confert, 
Equestris ordinis virum, sed auctoritate famaque inter pro- 
ceres. Ab eo contracti Haruspices monuere, ' ut reliquiae 
1 prions delubri in paludes aveherentur : templum iisdem 
' vestigiis sisteretur : nolle Deos, mutari veterem formam.' 
Undecimo Kal. Julias, serena luce spatium omne, quod 

d Suum cuique sanguinem indiscretum. The ties of blood canaol, 
>e dissolved. 

17* 



182- C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 823. 

templo dicabatur, evinctum vittis coronisque. Ingressi 
milites, quis fausta nomina, felicibus ramis : (e) dein vir- 
gines Vestales, cum pueris puellisque patrimis matrimisque, 
aqua, vivis e fontibus amnibusque hausta, perluere. Turn 
Helvidius Priscus, Praetor, pra3eunte Plautio iEliano, Pon- 
tifice, lustrata suovetaurilibus area, et super cespitem red- 
ditis extis, ' Jovem, Junonem, Minervam praesidesque Im- 

* perii deos' precatus, ' uti co3pta prosperarent, sedesque 
4 suas, pietate hominum inchoatas, Divina ope adtollerent ;' 
vittas, quis ligatus lapis, innexique funes erant, contigit. 
Simul ceteri Magistratus et Sacerdotes et Senatus et Eques 
et magna pars populi, studio laetitiaque connixi, saxum in- 
gens traxere : passimque injectae fundamentis argenti 
aurique stipes et metallorum prirr-itiae, nullis fomacibus 
victae,sed ut gignuntur. Praedixere Haruspices, ne teme- 
raretur opus saxo aurove, in aliud destinato. Altitudo aedi- 
bus adjecta. (/) Id solum religio adnuere, et prioris tem- 
pli magnificentiae defuisse creditum. 

LIV. Audita interim per Gallias Germaniasque mors Vi- 
tellii duplicaverat bellum. Nam Civilis, omissa dissimula- 
tione, in Populum Romanum ruere. Vitellianae legiones 
vel externum servitium, quam Imperatorem Vespasianum, 
malle. Galli sustulerant animos, eandem ubique exercitu- 
um nostrorum fortunam rati : vulgato rumore, < a Sarmatis 

* Dacisque Moesica ac Pannonica hiberna circumsideri : 5 
paria de Britannia fingebantur. Sed nihil aeque, quam in- 
cendium capitolii, ut finem Imperio adesse crederent, in- 
pulerat. \ Captam olim a Gallis urbem : sed. integra Jovis 

* sede, mansisse Imperium. Fatali nunc igne signum cae- 
4 lestisirae datum, et possessionem rerurn humanarum Tran- 
' salpinis gentibus portendi,' superstitione vana Druidae, (g) 
canebant. Incesseratque fama, primores Galliarum, ab 
Othone adversus Vitellium missos, antequam digrederen- 
tur, pepigisse, ' ne deessent libertati, si Populum Roma* 

e Quis fausta nomina. In all solemn ceremonies, the Romans se- 
lected for the performers, men whose names they thought propitious. 
See Cicero, de Divinatione, book i. s. 102. Felicibus ramis, 
branches of the laurel, olive, &c. 

/The splendour and magnificence of the Capitol are described by 
Plutarch, Life of Agricola. 

g The order of Druids had been suppressed in Gaul by Tiberius. 
Pliny, book xxx. s. 4 ; and the Emperor Claudius extinguished their 
religion — Suetonius, in Claud, s. 25. It is probable, therefore, that 
a race of Druids was sent to Britain. 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 183 

1 num continua bellorum civilium series et interna malo 
' fregissent.' 

LV. Ante Flacci Hordeonii casdem, nihil prorupit, quo 
conjuratio intelligeretur Interfecto Hordeonio, coromea- 
vere nuntii inter Civilem Classicumque, Praefectum ala3 
Treverorum. Classicus nobilitate opibusque ante alios. 
Regium illi genus et pace belloque clara origo. Ipse e 
majoribus suis hostis Populi Romani quam socius, jactabat. 
Miscuere sese Julius Tutor et Julius Sabinus : hie Trevir, 
hie Lingon. Tutor ripae Rheni a Vitellio praefectus : Sa- 
binus, super insitam vanitatem, falsae stirpis gloria incende- 
batur : ' provinciam suam D. Julio, per Gallias bellanti, 
1 corpore atque adulterio placuisse.' Hi secretis sermoni- 
bus animos ceterorum scrutari : ubi, quos idoneos rebantur, 
conscientia obstrinxere, in colonia Agrippinensi in domum 
privatam conveniunt : nam publice civitas talibus inceptis 
abhorrebat : attamen interfuere quidam Ubiorum Tungro- 
rumque. Sed plurima vis penes Treveros ac Lingonas : 
(h) nee tulere moras consultandi : certatim proclamant : 
4 furere discordiis Populum Romanum, cassas legiones, vas- 
4 tatam Italiam, capi cum maxime urbem, omnes exercitus 
* suis quemque bellis detineri : si Alpes prcesidiis firmentur, 
4 coalita libertate, dispecturas Gallias, quern virium suarum 
4 terminum velint.' 

LVI. Haec dicta pariter probataque : de reliquiis Vitel- 
liani exercitus dubitavere. Plerique * interficiendos' cen- 
sebant, - turbidos, iniidos, sanguine ducum pollutos.' Vicit 
ratio parcendi : 'ne, sublata spe venise, pertinaciam accen- 
1 derent. Adliciendos potius in societatem. Legatis tan- 
' turn legionum interfectis, ceterum vulgus, conscientia 
4 scelerum et spe inpunitatis, facile accessurum.' Ea primi 
consilii forma : missique per Gallias concitores belli. Si- 
mulatum ipsis obsequium, quo incautiorem Voculam oppri- 
merent. Nee defuere, qui Voculse nuntiarent. Sed vires 
ad coercendum deerant, infrequentibus infidisquelegionibus. 
Inter ambiguos milites et occultos hostes, optimum e prae- 
sentibus, ratus mutua dissimulatione et iisdem, quibus pete- 
batur, artibus, grassari ; in coloniam Agrippinensem descen- 

h Ubiorum. See this book, s. xxviii. note, (u.) The Tungri were 
a people of Belgia. Their city, according to Caesar, was called 
Atuaca.) now Tongeren, in the bishoprick of Liege. For the Treieri. 
see book i. s. 63. note, (o.) The Lingones were a people of Belgic 
£aul, inhabiting the country about Langres and Dijon. 



184 C. COliN. TAC1TI. a. v. c. 823. 

dit. Illuc Claudius Labeo, quern, captum et extra conven- 
tual (i) amandatum in Frisios, diximus, conruptis custodibus 
perfugit : pollicitusque, ' si presidium daretur, iterum in 

* Batavos et potiorem civitatis partem ad societatem Roma- 

* nam retracturum ;' accepta peditum equitumque modica 
manu, nihil apud Batavos ausus, quosdam Nerviorum Be- 
tasiorumque (j) in arma traxit. Et furtim magis, quam 
bello, Caninefates Marsacosque incursabat. Vocula, Gallo- 
rum fraude inlectus, ad hostem contendit. 

LVII. Nee procul Veteribus aberat, cum Classicus ac 
Tutor, per speciem explorandi praegressi, cum Ducibus 
Germanorum pacta firmavere. Tumque primum discreti a 
legionibus proprio vallo castra sua circumdant, obtestante 
Vocula, \ Non adeo turbatam civilibus armis rem Roma- 

* nam, ut Treveris etiam Lingonibusque despectui sit. 
c Superesse fidas provincias, victores exercitus, fortunam 

* Imperii, et ultores deos. Sic olim Sacrovirum et^Eduos, 

* nuper Vindicem (k) Galliasque, singulis prceliis conci- 
' disse. Eadem rursus Numina, eadem fata, ruptores fce- 
e derum exspectarent. Melius D. Julio Divoque Augusto 
' notos eorum animos. Galbam, et infracta tributa, (/) 
4 hostiles spiritus induisse. Nunc hostes, quia molle servi- 
4 tium ; cum spoliati exutique fuerint, amicos fore.' Haec 
ferociter locutus, postquam perstare in perfidia Classicum 
Tutoremque videt, verso itinere, Novesium concedit. 
Galli duum millium spatio distantibus campis consedere. 
Illuc commeantium Centurionum militumque emebantur 
animi : ut (flagitium incognitum) Romanus exercitus in ex- 
terna verba jurarent, pignusque tanti sceleris nece aut vin- 
culis Legatorum daretur. Vocula, quamquam plerique fu- 
gam suadebant, audendum ratus, vocata concione, in hunc 
modum disseruit. 

LVIII. ' Numquam apud vos verba feci, aut pro vobis 
' sollicitior, aut pro me securior. Nam mihi exitium para- 
' ri, libens audio : mortemque in tot malis honestam, ut 



i Extra convenlum. Out of the country of those who were leagued 
in arms against the Romans. 

j Betasii, inhabitants of what is now called Brabant. 

k For Sacrovir, see Annals, iii. s. 46. For Vindex, and the revolt 
of Gaul under his conduct, see Mur. Tac. App. to Ann. xvi. s. 12. 

I Infracta tributa. Galba had granted to some cities an exemp- 
tion from tribute, or lessened the amount of what they were obliged 
to pay. 



S. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 185 

4 tinem (m) miseriarum, exspecto. Vestri me pudet mise- 

* retque, adversus quos non proelium et acies parantur, id 
1 enim fas armorum et jus hostium : bellum cum Populo 
4 Romano vestris se manibus gesturum, Classicus sperat. 

* Imperiumque et sacramentum Galliarum ostentat. Adeo 

* nos, si fortuna in praesens virtusque deseruit, etiam Vetera 

* exempla deficiunt : quotiens Romanas legiones perire 
1 praeoptaverint, ne loco pellerentur : socii saepe nostri, 
1 exscindi urbes suas, seque cum conjugibus ac liberis ere- 

* mari, pertulerunt : neque aliud pretium exitus, quam fides 
1 famaque. Tolerant cum maxime inopiam obsidiumque 
4 apud Vetera (?i) legiones, nee terrore, aut promissis de~ 
4 moventur. Nobis, super arma et viros et egregia castro- 

* rum munimenta, frumentum et commeatus, quamvis longo 
4 bello pares. Pecunia nuper etiam donativo suffecit : 
1 quod sive a Vespasiano, sive a Vitellio, datum interpreta- 

* ri mavultis, ab Imperatore certe Romano accepistis. 
1 Tot bellorum victores, apud Geldubam, apud Vetera, 

* fuso totiens boste, si pavetis aciem, indignum id quidem : 
? sed est vallum murique et trahendi artes, donee e proxi- 
1 mis provinciis auxilia exerckusque concurrant. Sane ego 
' displiceam : sunt alii Legati, Tribuni, Centurio denique, 
. aut miles. Ne hoc prodigium toto terrarum orbe vulge- 

* tur, vobis satellitibus, Civilem et Classicum Italiam inva- 

* suros. An, si ad moenia urbis Germani Gallique duxe- 
4 rint, arma patriae inferetis ? Horret animus tanti flagitii 
4 imagine. Tutorin 5 Trevero agentur excubiae ? Signum 
1 belli Batavus dabit ? Germanorum catervas supplebitis ? 

* quis deinde sceleris exitus ? cum Romanae legiones con- 
' tra direxerint: transfugae e transfugis, et proditores e 
1 proditoribus, inter recens et vetus sacramentum invisi 

* Deis errabitis ? Te, Jupiter optime maxime, quern per 

* octingentos viginti annos, tot triumphis coluimus, te, Qui- 
' rine, Romanae parens urbis, precor venerorque, ut, si vo- 
4 bis non fuit cordi, me Duce haec castra inconrupta et in- 

* temerata servari, at certe pollui fcedarique a Tutore et 

* Classico ne sinatis. Militibus Romanis aut innocentiam 
i detis, autmaturam et sine noxa poenitentiam.' 

LIX. Varie excepta oratio, inter spem metumque ad pu- 



m Hostium ut Jinem. Lipsius supposes the true reading to be 
portum etjinem^ or honestum ut Jinem. 
n Vetera* See this book, s. xviii. note (h.) 



186 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 823. 

dorem. Digressum Voculam, et de supremis agitantem, 
liberti servique prohibuere, foedissimam mortem (o) sponte 
praevenire. Et Classicus, misso ^Emilio Longino, deser- 
tore primae legionis, caedem ejus maturavit. Herennium 
et Numisium, Legatos, vinciri satis visum. Dein, sumptis 
Romani Imperii insignibus, (p) in castra venit. Nee illi, 
quamquam ad omne facinus durato, verba ultra suppedita- 
vere, quam ut sacramentum recitaret. Juravere, qui ade- 
rant, ' pro Imperio Galliarum.' Interfectorem Voculae al- 
tis ordinibus, ceteros, ut quisque flagitium navaverat, prae- 
miis adtollit. Divisae inde inter Tutorem et Classicum cu- 
ra3. Tutor valida manu circumdatos Agrippinenses, quan- 
tumque militum apud superiorem Rheni ripam, in eadem 
verba adigit, oceisis Magontiaci Tribunis, pulso castrorum 
Praefecto, qui detrectaverant. Classicus corruptissimum 
quemque e deditis c pergere ad obsessos' jubet, ' veniam 
4 ostentantes, si praesentia sequerentur: aliter nihil spei, 
i famem ferrumque et extrema passuros.' 

LX. Adjecere, qui missi erant, exemplum suum. Ob- 
sessos hinc fides, inde egestas, inter decus ac flagitium dis- 
trahebant. Cunctantibus solita insolitaque alimenta dee- 
rant; absumptis jumentis equisque et ceteris animalibus, 
quae profana foedaque in usum necessitas vertit. Virgulta 
postremo, et stirpes et internatas saxis herbas vellentes, 
miseriarum patientiaeque doeumentum fuere : donee egre- 
giam laudem fine turpi macularent, missis ad Civilem lega- 
tis, ' vitam' orantes. Neque ante preces admissae, quam in 
verba Galliarum jurarent. Turn, pactus ' praedam castro- 
6 rum, 5 dat custodes, qui pecuniam, calones, sarcinas reten • 
tarent, ac qui ipsos leves abeuntes prosequerentur. Ad 
quintum fere lapidem coorti Germani incautum agmen ad- 
grediuntur. Pugnacissimus quisque in vestigio, multi pa- 
lantes, occubuere : ceteri retro in castra profugiunt ; que- 
rente sane Civile et increpante Germanos, 4 tamquam fidem 
w per scelus abrumperent.' Simulata ea fuerint, an retinere 
saevientes nequiverit, parum adfirmatur. Direptis castris, 
iaces injiciunt : cunctosque, qui proelio superfuerant, in- 
cendium hausit. 



© Fozdissimam mortem. He was assassinated. 
p Romani imperii insignibus. Ernestus supposes that the lictor?* 
with their badges of office, are here referred to* 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. ^UARTUS. 187 

LXI. Civilis, barbaro voto, (9) post coepta adversus Ro- 
manos arma, propexum rutilatumque crinem, patrata de- 
mum caede legionum, deposuit. Et ferebatur, parvulo filio 
quosdam captivorum, sagittis jaculisque puerilibus figendos, 
obtulisse. Ceterum neque se, neque quemquam Batavum, 
in verba Galliarum adegit : fisus Germanorum opibus : et, 
si certandum adversus Gallos de possessione rerum foret, 
inclitus fama et potior. Mummius Lupercus, Legatus le- 
gionis, inter dona missus Veledae. Ea virgo nationis Bruc- 
terae late imperitabat : vetere apud Germanos more, quo 
plerasque feminarum fatidicas,et, augescente superstitione, 
arbitrantur Deas. Tuncque Veledae (r) auctoritas adole- 
vit : nam ' prosperas Germanis res et excidium legionum' 
prasdixerat. Sed Lupercus in itinere interfectus. Pauci 
Centurionum Tribunorumque, in Gallia geniti, reservantur, 
pignus societatis. Cohortium, alarum, legionum hiberna 
sub versa cremataque : iis tantum relictis, quae Magontiaci 
ac Vindonissae sita sunt. 

LXII. Legio sextadecima cum auxiliis simul deditis a 
Novesio in coloniam Treverorum transgredi jubetur, prae- 
finita die, intra quam castris excederet. Medium omne 
tempus per varias curas egere : ignavissimus quisque, 
caesorum apud Vetera exemplo, paventes ; melior pars 
rubore et infamia : ' quale illud iter ? quis dux viae ? et 
c omnia in arbitrio eorum, quos vitae necisque dominos fe- 
4 cissent.' Alii, nulla dedecoris cura, pecuniam, aut caris- 
simasibimetipsi circumdare. Quidam expedire arma, te- 
lisque tamquam in aciem accingi. Haec meditantibus, ad- 
venit proficiscendi hora, exspectatione tristior. Quippe 
intra vallum deformitas haud perinde notabilis : detexit ig- 
nominiam campus et dies. Revulsae Tmperatorum ima- 
gines, inhonora signa, (s) fulgentibus hinc inde Galloi um 
vexillis : silens agrnen, et velut longae exsequiae : dux Clau- 
dius Sanctus, effosso oculo : dims ore, ingenio debilior. 
Duplicatur flagitium, postquam, desertis Bonnensibus cas- 
tris, altera se legio miscuerat. Et, vulgata captarum le- 
gionum fama, cuncti, qui paullo ante Romanorura nomen 

q Barbaro voto. To bind themselves by a solemn vow, not to clip 
their hair or beard till they had accomplished their revenge, was 
usual among barbarians. See the manners of the Germans, s. 31. 

r For Veleda^ and other prophetic women, see the manners of the 
Germans, s. 8. 

s Inhonora signa. See Annals i. 24* 



188 C. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 823. 

horrebant, procurrentes ex agris tectisque et undique ef- 
fusi insolito spectaculo nimium fruebantur. Non tulit ala 
Picentina (t) gaudium insultantis vulgi : spretisque Sancti 
promissis aut minis, Magontiacum abeunt : ac forte obvio 
interfectore Voculae, Longino, conjectis in eutn telis, ini- 
tium exsolvendae in posterum culpae fecere. Legiones, 
nihil mutato itinere, ante moenia Treverorum considunt. 

LXIII. Civilis et Classicus, rebus secundis sublati, an 
coloniam Agrippinensem diripiendam exercitibus suis per- 
mitterent, dubitavere. Saevitia ingenii et cupidine praedae 
ad excidium civitatis trahebantur : obstabat ratio belli, et 
novum Imperium inchoantibus utilis clementiae fama. Ci- 
vilem etiam beneficii memoria flexit, quod filium ejus, 
primo rerum motu, in colonia Agrippinensi deprehensum, 
honorate custodierant. Sed Transrhenanis gentibus invisa 
civitas, opulentia auctuque. Neque alium finem belli re- 
bantur, quarn si promiscua ea cedes omnibus Germanis fo- 
ret, aut, disjecta, Ubios quoque dispersisset. 

LXIV. Igitur Tencteri, Rheno discreta gens, missis le- 
gatis, mandata apud concilium Agrippinensium edi jubent : 
quae ferocissimus e legatis in hunc modum protulit : 4 Re- 
c disse vos in corpus nomenque Germaniae, communibus 

< Deis et praecipuo Deorum, Marti, grates agimus : vobis- 
6 que gratulamur, quod tandem liberi inter liberos eritis. 
' Nam ad hunc diem flumina ac terras et coelum quodammo- 

* do ipsum clauserant Romani : ut conloquia congressusque 
c nostros arcerent ; vel, quod contumeliosius est viris ad 
' arma natis, inermes ac prope nudi, sub custode et prelio 

< coiremus. Sed, ut amicitia societasque nostra in aeter- 
' Dum rata sit, postulamus a vobis, muros coloniae, muni- 

* menta servitii, detrahatis : (etiam fera animalia, si clausa 
4 teneas, virtutis obliviscuntur:) Romanos omnes in fini- 
A bus vestris trucidetis ; haud facile libertas et domini mis- 
i centur : bona interfectorum in medium cedant, ne quis 
1 occulere quidquam aut segregare caussam suam possit. 
' Liceat nobis vobisque utramque ripam colere, ut olim ma- 
' joribus nostris : quomodo lucem diemque omnibus ho- 
c minibus ; ita omnes terras fortibus viris natura aperuit. 
1 Instituta cultumque patrium resumite, abruptis voluptati- 
6 bus, quibus Romani plus adversus subjectos, quam armis, 

t A squadron of cavalry raised by the people of Picentia, whose 
territory, called Ager Picentinits, lay on the Tuscan Sea. 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 189 

' valent : (w) sincerus et integer et servitutis oblitus popu- 

* Ins, aut ex aequo agetis, aut aliis imperitabitis.' 

LXV. Agrippinenses, sumpto consultandi spatio, quando 
neque subire conditiones metus futuri, neque pal am adsper- 
nari conditio praesens, sinebat, in hunc modum respondent. 
Quae prima libertatis facultas data est, avidius quam cau- 
tius, sumpsimus, ut vobis ceterisque Germanis, consan- 
guineis nostris, jungeremur. Muros civitatis, congregan- 
tibus se cum maxime Romanorum exercitibus, augere no- 
bis, quam diruere, tutius est. Si qui ex Italia, aut pro- 
vinciis, alienigenae in finibus nostris fuerant, eos bellurn 
absumpsit, vel in suas quisque sedes refugere. Deductis 
olim (y) et nobiscum per connubium sociatis, quique mox 
provenere, haec patria est. Nee vos adeo iniquos existi- 
' mamus, ut interfici a nobis parentes, fratres, liberos nos- 
1 tros velitis. Vectigal et onera commerciorum resolvi- 

* mas. Sint transitus incustoditi ; sed diurni et inermes : 
4 donee nova et recentia jura in vetustatem consuetudine 

* vertantur. Arbitrum habebiraus Civilem et Veledam. 

* apud quos pacta sancientur.' Sic lenitis Tencteris, legati 
ad Civilem et Veledam missi cum donis, cuncta ex volun- 
tate Agrippinensium perpetravere. Sed coram adire adlo- 
quique Veledam negatum. Arcebantur adspectu, quo ve- 
nerationis plus inesset. Ipsa edita in turre : delectus e 
propinquis consulta responsaque, ut internuntius Numinis. 
portabat. 

LXVl. Civilis, societate Agrippinensium auctus, proxi- 
mas civitates adfectare, aut adversantibus bellum inferre. 
statait. Occupatisque Sunicis, (zv) et juventute eorum per 
cohortes composita, quo minus ultra pergeret, Claudius 
Labeo Betasiorum Tungrorumque et Nerviorum tumultua- 
ria manu restitit : fretus loco, quia pontem Mosas fluminis 
anteceperat. Pugnabaturque in angustiis ambigue, donee 
Germani transnatantes terga Labeonis invasere. Simul 
Civilis, ausus, an ex composito, intulit se agmini Tungro- 
rum, et clara voce : ■ non ideo,' inquit, * bellum sumpsi- 

u The Romans, gays Murphy, kept the nations in subjection, not 
so much by their arms, as by the allurements of pleasure, which they 
called civilization. See also the life of Agricola, s. 2). 

v Deductis olim. Cofonis is understood: quique mox TproTenere, 
i. e. those who descended from them. 

iv Sunici, a people removed from Germany to Gallia Belgic*. 
According to Cluverius, they inhabited the duchy of Limburg. 

18 



190 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 8t& 

' mus, ut Batavi et TreTeri gentibus imperent. Procul 
6 ha3c a nobis aclrogantia : accipite societatem : transgre- 
c dior ad vos, sen rue Ducem, seu militem, mavultis.' 
Movebatur valgus, condebantque gladios ; cum Campanus 
ac Juvenalis, ex primoribus Tungrorum, universam ei gen- 
tem dedidere. Labeo, antequam circumveniretur, profu- 
git. Civilis Betasios quoque ac Nervios, in fidem accep- 
tos, copiis suis adjunxit : ingens rerum, perculsis civitatum 
animis, vel sponte inclinantibus. 

LXVII. Interea Julius Sabinus, projectis foederis Roma* 
m monumentis, (rr) ' Caesarem' se salutari jubet : inagnam- . 
que et inconditam popularium turbam in Sequanos rapit, 
conterminam civitatem et nobis fidam. Nee Sequani (j) 
detrectavere certamen. Fortuna melioribus adfuit. Fusi 
Lingones. Sabinus festinatum temere proelium pari for- 
midine deseruit. Utque famam exitii sui faceret, villam, 
in quam perfugerat, cremavit : illic vohintaria morte inte- 
riisse creditus. Sed, quibus artibus latebrisque vitam per 
novem mox annos traduxerit, simul amicorum ejus constan- 
tiain et insigne Epponinae uxoris exemplum, (z) suo loco 
reddemus. Ssquanorum prospera acie belli inpetus stetit. 
Resipiscere paullatim civitates, fasque et fcedera respicere. 
principibus Remis : (a) qui per Gallias edixere, ' ut missis 
fc legatis in commune consultarent, libertas an pax pla- 
' ceret. 5 

LXVIIL At Romas cuncta in deterius audita Mucianum 
angebant, ne, quamquam egregii Duces (jam eriim Galium 
Annium et Petilium Cerialem delegerat) summam belli pa- 
rum tolerarent. Nee relinquenda urbs sine rectore. Et 
Domitiani indomitse libidines timebantur : suspectis, uti 
diximus, Primo Antonio Varoque Arrio. Varus, Praeto- 
rianis propositus, vim atque arma retinebat. Eum Mucia- 
nus pulsum loco, ne sine solatio ageret, annonae preefecit. 
Utque Domitiani anirnum, Vara haud alienum, deliniret. 



x Monumentis. Tables of brass, on which was engraved the 
treaty of alliance between the Romans and the Lingones. 

y Sequani, a people of Belgic Gaul, inhabiting the country now 
mailed Franche Comic, or the Upper Burgundy, and deriving their 
name from the Sequana, now the Seine. 

# The account here promised of Eponia's fidelity, has not ccme 
down to us. She was discovered in a cavern with Sabinus, her hus- 
band, nine years afterwards, and with him conveyed to Rome. 

a The ftkemi inhabited what is now called the diocese of Rheint?. 



i. u. 70. H1STOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 191 

Arretinum Clementem, domui Vespasiani per adfinitatem 
innexum et gratissimum Domitiano, Praetorianis praeposuit, 

* patrem ejus, sub Caio Ca&sare, egregie functum ea cura,' 
dictitans : ' laetum militibus idem nomen, atque ipsum, 
i quamquam Senatorii ordinis, ad utraque munia sufficere.' 
Adsumuntur e civitate clarissimus quisque, et alii per am- 
bitionem. Simul Domitianus Mucianusque accingebantur, 
dispari aiiimo : illespe ac juventaproperns, hie moras nec- 
tens, quis flagrantem retineret, ne ferocia aetatis et pravis 
inpulsoribus, si exercitum invasisset, paci belloque male 
consuleret. Legiones victrices, sexta et octava, Vitellia- 
narum unaetvicesima, e recens conscriptis secunda, Pen- 
ninis Cottianisque Alpibus, pars monte Graio, traducun- 
tur : quartadecima legio e Britannia, sexta ac decima ex 
Hispania accitae. Igitur venientis exercitus fama, et suopte 
ingenio, ad mitiora inclinantes Galliarum civitates, in Re- 
mos convenere. Treverorum legatio illic opperiebatur, 
acerrimo instinctore belli Tullio Valentino. Is meditata 
oratione cuncta, magnis knperiis objectari solita, contume- 
liasque et invidiam in Populum Romanum effudit : turbidus 
miscendis seditionibus, et plerisque gratus vecordi facundia. 

LXIX. At Julius Auspex, e primoribus Remorum, ' vim 
' Romanam pacisque bona' dissertans, et ' sumi bellum 

- etiam ab ignavis, strenuissimi cuj usque periculo geri, jam- 
1 que super caput legiones,' sapientissimum quemque re- 
verentia fideque, juniores periculo ac metu, continuit. Et 
Valentinianimum laudabant, consilium Auspicissequebantur. 
Constat, obstitisse Treveris Lingonibusque (b) apud Gallias, 
quod, Vindicis motu, cum Verginio steterant. Deterruit 
plerosque provinciarum aemulatio : ' quod bello caput ? 

* unde jus auspiciumque peteretur? quam, si cuncta pro- 

* venissent, sedem Imperio legerent ?' Nondum victoria, 
jam discordia erat : aliis foedera, quibusdam opes viresque, 
aut vetustatem ori^inis, per jurgia jactantibus. Tsedio fu- 
turorum praesentia placuere. Scribuntur ad Treveros 
epistolae, nomine Galliarum, * ut abstinerent armis, inpe- 

- netrabili veoia et paratis deprecatoribus, si poeniteret.' 
Restitit idem Valentinus, obstruxitque civitatis suae -'ures, 
haud perinde instruendo bello intentus, quam frequens con* 
cionibus. 

LXX. Igitur non Treveri, neque Lingones ceteraeve 

b See Appendix io Annals xvi. 



192 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 82g. 

rebellium civitates, pro magnitudine suscepti discriminis 
agere. Ne Duces quidem in unum consulere. Sed Civilis 
avia Belgarura (c) circuraibat : dum Claudium Labeonem 
capere aut exturbare nititur. Classicus, segne plerumque 
otium trahens, velui parto imperio fruebatur. Ne Tutor- 
quidem maturavit superiorem Germaniae ripam et ardua 
Alpium praesidiis claudere. Atque interim unaetvicesima 
legio Vindonissa, Sextilius Felix cum auxiliariis cohortibus 
per Rhaetiam inrupere. Accessit ala Singularium, excita 
olim a Vitellio, deinde in partes Vespasiani transgressa. 
Praeerat Julius Briganticus, sorore Civilis genitus, ut ferme 
acerrima proximorum odia sunt, invisus avunculo infensus- 
que. Tutor Treverorum copias, recenti Vangionum, (d} 
Caracatium, Tribocorum delectu auctas, veterano peditc 
atque equite firmavit, conruptis spe, aut metu subactis le- 
gionariis : qui primo cohortem, praemissam a Sextilio Fe- 
lice, interficiunt ; mox ubi Duces exercitusque Romanus 
propinqaabant, honesto transfugio rediere : secutis TribO- 
cis Vangionibusque et Caracatibus. Tutor, Treveris co- 
mitantibus, vitato Magontiaco, Bingium concessit, fidens^ 
loco, quia pontem Navae (e) flu minis abfuperat, sed incursu 
cohortium, quas Sextilius ducebat, et reperto vado, prodi- 
tus fususque. Ea clade perculsi Treveri, et plebes, omis- 
sis armis, per agros palatur : quidam Principum, ut primi 
posuisse bellum viderentur, in civitates, quae societatem 
Romanam non exuerant, perfugerunt. Legiones a Nove- 
sio Bonnaque in Treveros, ut supra memoravimus, traduc- 
t33, se ipsaa in verba Vespasiani adigunt. Haec Valentino 
absente gesta qui ubi adventabat furens, cunctaque rursus 
in turbas et exitium conversurus, legiones in Mediomatri- 
cos, sociam civitatem, abscessere. Valentinus ac Tutor in 
anna Treveros retrabunt : occisis Herennio ac Numisio, 
Legatis, quo minore spe venias cresceret vinculum sceleris, 
LXXI. Hie belli status erat, cum Petilius Cerialis Ma- 
gontiacum venit : ejus adventu erectae spes. Ipse pugnae 
avidus et contemnendis, quam cavendi^, hostibus melior, 
ferocia verborum militem incendebat: ubi primum congre- 
di licuisset, nullam prcelio moram facturus : delectus per 



e The country about Bruges, 
d Vangiones, now the diocese of Worms. 

e Jfava, a river of Gallia Belgica, which runs north-east into tte 
RJtiine ; now the Nahe. 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB* QUARTUS. 193 

Galliam habitos in civitates remittit, ac nuntiare jubet, 
k sufficere Imperio legiones : socii ad mimia pacis redirent 3 
4 securi, velut confecto bello, quod Roinanae manus exce- 
' pissent.' Auxit ea res Gallorum obsequium : nam, re- 
cepta juventute, facilius tributa toleravere, proniores ad 
officia, quod spernebantur At Civilis et Ciassicus, ubi 
1 pulsum Tutorem, caesos Treveros, cuncta hostibus pros- 
' pera' accepere, trepidi ac properantes, dum dispersas 
suorum copias conducuni, crebris interim nuntiis Valenti- 
num monuere, ' ne summse rei periculum faceret.' Eo ra- 
pidius Cerialis, missis in Mediomatricos, qui breviore iti 
nere legiones in hostem verterent, contracto, quod erat mi- 
Jitum Magontiaci, quantumque secum transvexerat, tertiis 
castris Rigodulum (/) venit ; quern locum magna Trevero* 
rum manu Valentinus insederat, montibus aut Mosella amne 
septum ; et addiderat fossas obicesque saxorum. Nee de- 
terruere ea munimenta Romanum Ducem, quo minus pedi- 
tern perrumperejuberet,equitum aciem in collem erigeret, 
spretohoste ; quern, temere conlectum, haudita loco juva- 
ri, ut non plus suis in virtute foret. Paullum morae in ad- 
scensu, dum missilia hostium praevehuntur ; ut ventum in 
manus, deturbati, ruinae modo, praecipitantur. Et pars 
equitum, aequioribus jugis circumvecta, nobilissimos Bel- 
garum, in quis Ducem Valentinum, cepit. 

LXXII. Cerialis postero die coloniam Treverorum in- 
gressus est, avido milite eruendae civitatis : ' hanc esse 

* Classici, hanc Tutoris, patriam : horum scelere clausas 

* cassasque legiones. Quid tantum Cremonam meruisse ; 

* quam e gremio Italian raptam, quia unius noctis moram 

* victoribus adtulerit ? Stare in confinio Germanias inte- 

* gram sedem, spoliis exercituum et Ducum caedibus ovan* 

* tern. Redigeretur preeda in fiscum : ipsis sufficere ignes 

* et rebellis coloniae ruinas, quibus tot castrorum excidia 
' pensarentur.' Cerialis, a metu infamiae, (g) si licentia 
saevitiaque inbuere militem crederetur, pressit iras : et 
paruere, posito civium bello, ad externa modestiores. 
Convertit inde animos accitarum e Medio matricis legionum 
miserabilis adspectus. Stabant conscientia flagitii maestae, 
fixis in terram occulis. Nulla inter coeuntes exercitus con- 



/ Rigodulum, now Rigol, on the Moselle, near Treves, 
g Cerialis a metu infamioz. Lipsius supposes that the prepositiott 
should be omitted. 

18 * 



194 C. CORN. TACITL a. v. c. 823. 

saluiatio : neque solantibus hortantibusve responsa dabant, 
abditi per tentoria et luceai ipsam vitantes : nee perinde 
periculum aut metus, quam pudorac dedecus, obstupefece- 
rat : adtonitis etiam victorious, quis vocem precesque ad- 
hibere non uusi, lacnmis ac silentio veniam poscebant : 
donee Cerialis mulceret amnios, ' fato acta 5 dictitans, ' quae 
1 militum Ducumque discordia, vel fraude hostium, evenis- 
1 sent. Primum ilium stipendiorum et sacramenti diem 

* haberent: priorum facinorum neque Imperatorem neque 

* se ineminisse. Tunc recepti in eadem castra et edictum 
per manipuios, ne quis incertaminejurgiove seditionem aut 
claclem commilitoni objectaret. 

LXXIII. Mox Treveros ac Lingones, adconcionem vo- 
catos, ita adloquitur. ■ Neque ego unquam facundiam ex- 
' ercui ; et Popuii Romani virtutem armis adfirmavi. Sed, 

* quia apud vos verba plurium v dent, bonaque acmala non 
4 sua natura, sed vocibus seditiosomm, aestimantur ; statui 
k pauca disserere, quae, profligato bello, utilius sit vobis 

* audisse, quam nobis dixisse. Terram vestram, cetero- 

* rumque Gallorum, ingressi sunt Duces Imperatoresque 
■ Romani, nulla cupidine, sed majoribus.vestris invocanti- 
' bus, quos discordise usque ad exitium fatigabant : et acciti 
' auxilio Germani sociis pariter atque hostibus servitutem 

* inposuerant. Quot proeliis adversus Cimbros Teutonos- 
K que, (k) quantis exercituum nostrorum laboribus, quove 
4 eventu Germanica bell a tractaverimus, satis clarum. Nee 
1 ideo Rhenum insedimus, ut Italiam tueremur; sed ne 
1 quis alius Ariovistus (i) Regno Galliarum potiretur. 
' An vos cariores Civili Batavisque et Trans rhenanis gen- 
6 tibus creditis, quam majoribus eorum patres avique vestri 

* fuerunt ? Eadem semper caussa Germanis transcendendi 
4 in Gallias, libido atque avaritia et mutandas sedis amor, 
4 ut, relictis pdudibus, et solitudinibus suis, fecundissimum 
4 hoc solum vosque ipsos possiderent. Ceterum libertas 
*" et speciosa nomina praetexuntur : nee quisquam alienum 
4 servitium et dominationem sibi concupivit, ut non eadem 
4 ista vocabula usurparet. 

LXXIV. ' Regna bellaque per Gallias semper fuere. 



h See VelleiusPaterculUs,bookii. s. 8 and 12; Plutarch in Mario* 
and Mallet's Introduction to the Hist, of Denmark, vol. i. p. 13. 

i For Ariovistus, the German chief, who pushed his conquests ite 
■Gaul, sec C<esar De Bell. Gall. Lib. i. s. 31. 



j. c. 70. H1STOR. LIB. QtJARTUS. 195 

4 donee in nostrum jus concederetis. Nos, quamquam to- 
1 tiens lacessiti, jure Victoria? id solum vobis addidimus, 
4 quo pacem tueremur. (j) Nam neque quies gentium 

* sine armis, neque arma sine stipendiis, neque stipendia 

* sine tributis haberi queunt. Cetera in communi sita 
■ sunt. Ipsi plerumque legionibus nostris praesidetis : ipsi 
' has aliasque provincias regitis. Nihil separatum clau- 
4 sunive. Et laudatorum Principum usus ex aequo, quam- 

* vis procul agentibus : saevi proximis ingruunt : quomodo 
1 sterilitatem, aut nimios imbres et cetera naturae mala, ita 
4 luxum vel avaritiarn dominantium tolerate. Vitia erunt, 
1 donee homines : sed neque haec continua, et meliorum 
4 interventu pensantur : nisi forte, Tutore et Classico reg- 
1 nantibus, moderatius imperium speratis : aut minoribus, 
4 quam nunc, tributis parabuntur exercitus, quibus German! 
4 Britannique arceantur. Nam pulsis (quod Dii prohibe- 
1 ant) Romanis, quid aliud, quam bella omnium inter se gen- 

* tium exsistent ? Octingentorum annorum fortuna disci- 

* plinaque compages haec coaluit, quae convelli, sine exitio 

* convellentium, non potest. Sed vobis maximum discri- 

* men, penes quos aurum et opes, praecipuae bellorum 
4 caussse. Proiude pacem et urbem, quam victi victoresque 
1 eodem jure obtinemus, annate, coiite. Moneant vos 
1 utriusque fortunae documenta, ne contumaciam cum per- 
1 nicie, quam obsequium cumsecuritate, malitis.' Tali ora- 
tione graviora metuentes composuit erexitque. 

LXXV. Tenebantur victore exercitu Treveri, cum Ci- 
vilis etClassicus misere epistoias adCerialem, quarum haec 
sententia fuit. 4 Vespasianum, quamquam nuntios occnlta- 
4 rent, excessisse vita. Urbem atque Italiam internobsllo 
4 consumptam. Muciani ac Domitiani vana et sine viribus 
4 nomina. Si Cerialis imperium Galliarum velit, ipsos. 
■ finibus civitatum suarum contentos ; si prcelium malit, ne 
4 id quidem abnuere.' Ad ea Cerialis Civili et Classico 
nihil : eum, qui adtulerat ipsas epistoias, ad Domitianum 
misit. Hostes, divisis copiis, advenere unclique. PJerique 
culpabant Cerialem, passum jungi, quos discretos interci- 
dere licuisset. Romanus exercitus castra fossa valloque 
circumdedit, quis temere antea intutis consederat. Apud 
Germanos diversis sententiis certabatur. 



j No tribute was required from the Gauls, but what was absolutely 
necessary for the support of government. 



l& C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 823. 

LXXVI. Civilis, ' opperiendas Transrhenanorumgentes, 
4 quarurn terrore fractae Populi Romani vires obtererenlur. 
c Gallos quid aliud, qua in prasdam victoribus ? et tamen, 
6 quod roboris sit, Belgas, secum palam aut voto stare.' 
Tutor, ' cuactatione crescere rem Romanam,' adfirmabat, 
' coeuntibus undique exercitibus. Transvectam e Britan- 

* nia legionem : accitas ex Hispania : adventare ex Italia : 
' nee subitum militem, sed veterem expertumque belli. 

* Nam Germanos, qui ab ipsis spereutur, non juberi, non 

* regi, sed cuncta ex iibidine agere : pecuniamque ac do- 
f na quissolis corrumpantur, majora apud Romanos, et ne- 
1 minem adeo in arma pronum, ut non idem pretium quie- 
6 tis, quam periculi, malit : quod si statim congrediantur, 
6 nullas esse Ceriali, nisi ex reliquiis Germanici exercitus, 
1 legiones, foederibus Galliarum obstrictas. Idque ipsum, 
6 quod inconditarn nuper Valentini manum contra spem 
' suam fuderint, alimentum illis Ducique temeritatis. 

* Ausuros rursus venturosque in mauus, non imperiti ado- 

* lescentuli, verba et conciones, quam ferrum et arma, me- 

* ditantis, sed Civilis et Classici : quos ubi adspexerint, re- 
f dituram in animos formidinem, fugam famemque ac to- 
$ tiens captis praecariam vitam, neque Treveros aut Lin- 
i gonas benevolentia contineri, (k) resumturos arma, ubi 
fr metus abscesserit.' Diremit consiliorum diversitatem, 
adprobata Tutoris sententia, Classicus : statimque exse- 
quuntur. 

LXXVII. Media acies Ubiis Lingonibusque data : dexlro 
cornu cohortesBatavorum : sinistro Bructeri Tencterique : 
pars montibus, alii, viam inter Mosellamque flumen, tarn 
inprovisi adsiluere, ut in cubiculo ac lectulo Cerialis (ne- 
que enim noctem in castris egerat) pugnari simul vincique 
suos audierit, increpans pavorem nuntiantium, donee uni- 
versa clades in oculis fuit. Perrupta legionum castra, fusi 
equites : medius Mosellae pons, qui ulteriora coloniae ad- 
nectit, ab hostibus insessus. Cerialis, turbidis rebus intre- 
pidus et fugientes manu retrahens, inteeto corpore promp- 
tus inter tela, felici temeritate et fortissimi cujusque adcur- 
su, reciperatum pontem electa manu firmavit. Mox in cas- 
tra reversus, palantes captarum apud Novesium Bonnamque 
legionum manipulos etrarum apud signa militem ac prope cir- 

k The Treveri and Lingones had been persuaded by Cerealis to 
lay down their arms. 



j. e, 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 197 

*:umventasaquilasvidet. Incensusira, 'non Flaccum' inquit, 

• non Voculam deseritis. Nulla hie proditio : neque aliudex- 
1 cusandum habeo, quam quod vos, Gallici foederis oblitos, re- 

* disse in memoriam Romani sacramenti, temere credidi. Ad- 
4 numerabor Numisiis et Herenniis : (/) ut oranes Legati ves- 
' tri, aut militum manibus, aut hostium, ceciderint. Ite, 
1 nuntiate Vespasiano, vel, quodpropius est, Civili et Clas- 
1 sico, relictum a vobis in acie Ducem : venient legiones, 

# quae neque me inultum, Deque vos inpunitos, patiantur.' 

LXXVI1I. Vera erant eta Tribunis Praefectisque eadem 
ingerebantur* Consistnnt per cohortes et manipulos : ne- 
que enim poterat pateseere acies, effuso hoste, et inpedi- 
entibus tentoriis sarcinisque, cum intra vallum pugnaretur. 
Tutor et Classicus et Civilis, suis quisque locis, pugnam 
ciebant : Gallos pro ' lihertate,' Batavos w pro gloria,' Ger- 
nianos 4 ad prsedam' instigantes. Et cuncta pro hostibus 
erant : donee legio unaetvicesima, patentiore, quam cete- 
ra?, spatio conglobata, sustinuit ruentes ; moxinpulit. Nee 
sine ope Divina, mutatis repente animis, terga victores 
vertere. Ipsi, territos se cohortium adspectu. ferebant, 
quae primo inpetu disjecta?, summis rursus jugis congrega- 
bantur, ac speciem novi auxilii fecerant. Sed obstitit vin- 
centibus pravum inter ipsos certamen, hoste omisso, spolia 
consectandi. Cerialis, ut incuria prope rem adflixit, ita 
constantly restituit : secutusque fortunam, castra hostium 
eodem die capit exscinditque. Nee in longum quies militi 
data. 

LXXIX. Orabant auxilium Agrippinenses ; offerebantque 
uxorem ac sororem Civilis et filiam Classici, relicta sibi 
pignora societatis. Atque interim dispersos in domibus 
Germanos trucidaverant. Unde metus et justae preces in- 
vocantium, antequam hostes, reparatis viribus, ad spem vel 
ad ultionem accingerentur. Namque et Civilis illuc inten- 
derat, non invalidus, flagrantissima cohortium suarum In- 
tegra : qua? ex Chaucis Frisiisque composita, Tolbiaci, (m) 
in finibus Agrippinensium, agebat. Sed tristis nuntius 
avertit, ' deletam cohortem dolo Agrippinensium :' qui 
largis epulis vinoque sopitos Germanos, clausis foribus,igne 
injecto, cremavere. Simul Cerialis propero agmine subve- 



l Hordeonius Flaccus and Vocula were murdered by their own sol- 
diers. Numisius and Herennius died by the sword of the enemy. 
m Tolbtacum^ now Zulpich, in the die cose of Cologne. 



198 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 023. 

nit. Circumsteterat Civilem et alias metus, r*e quartade- 
cima legio, adjuncta Britannica classe, adflictaret Batavos, 
qua Oceano ambiuntur. Sed legionem terrestri itinere (rc) 
Fabius Priscus, Legatus, In Nervios Tungrosque duxit : 
casque civitates in deditionem acceptae : classem ultro Ca- 
ninefates adgressi sunt : majorque pars navium depressa 
aut capta. Et Nerviorum multitudinem sponte commo- 
tam, ut pro Romanis bellum capesseret, iidem Caninefates 
fudere. Classicus quoque adversus equites, Novesium a 
Ceriale praemissos, secundum proelium fecit : quaB modica, 
sed crebra, damna famam victoriae, nuper partae, lacera- 
bant. 

LXXX. Iisdem diebus Mucianus Vitellii filiunv(o) inter- 
fici jubet : mansurara discordiam obtendens, ni semina belli 
resiinxisset. Neque Antonium Primutn adsciri inter comi- 
tes a Domitiano passus est : favore militum anxius, et su- 
perbia viri, aequalium quoque, adeo superiorum, intoleran- 
tis. Profectus ad Vespasianum Antonius, ut non pro spe 
sua excipitur, ita neque averso Imperatoris animo. Tra- 
hebatur in diversa : hinc meritis Antonii, cujus ductu con- 
fectum hand dubie bellum erat, inde Muciani epistolis : si- 
mul ceteri, ut ' infestum tumidumque' insectabantur, ad- 
juncts prioris vitas criminibus : neque ipse deerat, adro- 
gantia vocare oifensas, nimius commemorandis, quae meru- 
isset. ' Alios,' ut ' inbelles, Caecinam,' ut ' captivum ac 
' dediticium,' (p) increpat. Unde paullatim levior vilior- 
que haberi, manente tamen in speciem arnicitia. 

LXXXI. Per eos menses, quibus Vespasianus Alexan- 
drian statos aestivis flatibus dies, et certa maris opperieba- 
tur, multa miracula evenere, quis coeli favor et qusedam in 
Vespasianum inclinatio Numinum ostenderetur. Ex plebe 
Alexandrina quidam, (9) oculorum tabe notus, genua ejus 

n Brotier says, a military road may still be traced from Gessoria- 
cum, now Boulogne, to Atuaca, the capital of the TungrU now Ton- 
gres, in the bishopric of Liege. 

This was Germnnicus See Hist. ii. s. 59. 

j) Ccecina was kept in chains by his own soldiers. 

q It is not clear that Tacitus placed any faith in this extraordinary 
story. He says, indeed, that the two miracles were attested by men 
who were eye-witnesses, and had no longer any interest to corrupt 
their testimony. But that very observation implies that there might 
have been, at the point of time, mendacio pretium: if so, men, who 
have been the authors of a lie, are not willing to convict themselves* 
It is moreover evident, that they might have been imposed upon, 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 199 

advolvitur, ' remedium caecitatis' exposcens gemitu ; moni- 
tu Serapidis Dei, (r) quern dedita superstitiombus gens 
ante alios colit : precabaturque Principem, ' ut genas et 
4 oculorurn orbes dignaretur respergere oris excremento.* 
Alius manum aeger, (s) eodem Deo auctore, ■ ut pede ac 
1 vestigio Caesaris calcaretur,' orabat. Vespasianus primo 
inridere, adspernari : atque, illis instantibus, modo famam 
vanitatis metuere, modo obsecratione ipsorum et vocibus 
adulantium in spem induci, postremo existimari a medicis 
jubet, an talis cascitas ac debilitas ope humana superabiles 
ibrent. Medici varie di*serere : i Huic non exesam vim 
1 luminis et redituram, si pellerentur obstantia : illi elapsos 
i in pravum artus, si salubris vis adhibeatur, posse integra- 

* ri. Id fortasse cordi Deis, et Divino ministerio Princi- 
' pern electum : denique patrati remedii gloriam penes 

* Cassarem, inriti ludibrium penes miseros, fore.' Igitur 
Vespasianus, cuncta fortunae suae patere ratus, nee quidquam 
ultra incredibile, laeto ipse vultu, erecta, quae adstabat, 
multitudine, jussa exsequitur. Statim conversa ad usum 
manus, ac caeco reluxit dies. Utrumque, qui interfuere, 
nunc quoque memorant, postquam nullum mendacio pre- 
tium. 

LXXXII. Altiorinde Vespasiano cupido adeundi sacram 
sedem, ut super rebus Imperii consuleret. ' Arceri templo 
4 cunctos' jubet : atque ingressus intentusque Numini, res- 
pexit pone tergum e primoribus iEgyptiorum nomine fc Ba- 
4 siliden ;' (i) quern procul Alexandria plurium dierum iti- 
nere et aegro corpore detineri baud ignorabat. Percuncta- 
tur Sacerdotes, ' num illo die Basilides templum inisset V 
percunctatur obvios, ' num in urbe visus sit V denique, 
missis equitibus, explorat, illo temporis momento octoginta 



r In case of sickness, it was the custom of the common people, by 
the advice of the Egyptian priests, to abstain from focd. and lie in the 
temple of Serapis, stretched on the skins of victims slain at the altar. 
Hence the distempered visions of crazed imaginations, -which were 
considered as tight divine and prophecy. 

s Suetonius relates the two miracles ; but what Tacitus calls a pa- 
ralytic hand, he says was a paralytic leg In Vesp. s. 7. 

t This account of Vespasian and Basilides is related by Suetonius, 
in Vesp. s. 7. The name of Basilides, from the Greek word 
BctCiXsus, signifying king, gave Vespasian stronger hopes of obtaining 
the sovereign power. 



200 C. CORN. TACITI. a. 0, c. 823- 

millibus passuum abfaisse. Tunc Divinam speciem et vim 
responsi ex nomine ' Basilidis' interpretatus est. 

LXXXIIL Origo Dei nonelum nostris auctoribus cele- 
brata ; iEgyptiorum antistites sic memorant : ' Ptolemaeo 
1 Regi, qui Macedonum primus iEgypti opes firmavit, cum 
1 Alexandria3 recens conditas mcenia templaque et religiones 
* adderet, oblatum, per quietem, decore eximio et majore 
\ quarn humana specie juvenem, qui moneret,' ut, fidissi- 
mis amicorum in Pontum missis, effigiem suam acciret : 
lastum id Regno, magnamque et inclitam sedem fore, quae 
excepisset : ' simul visum eumdem juvenem in ccelum ig- 
' ne plurimo adtolli.' Ptolemaeus, omine et miraculo ex- 
citus, Sacerdotibus iEgyptiorum, quibus mos talia intelii- 
gere, nocturnos visus aperit. Atque illis, Ponti et exter- 
norum parum gnaris, Timotheum, Atheniensem, e gente 
Eumolpidarum, (u) quern, ut antistitem caerimoniarum, 
Eleusine exciverat, ' quaenam ilia superstitio, quod Nu- 
6 men?' interrogat. Timotheus, quapsitis, qui in Pontum 
meassent, cognoscit, urbem illic Sinopen, nee procul tem- 
plum, vetere inter adcolas fama,- Jovis Ditis. Namque et 
muliebrem effigiem adsistere, quam plerique Proserpinam 
vocent. Sed Ptolemaeus, ut sunt ingenia Regum, pronus 
ad formidinem, ubi securitas rediit, voluptatum quam reli- 
gionum adpetens, negligere paullatim aliasque ad curas ani- 
mum vertere : donee eadem species, terribilior jam et in- 
stantior, ' exitium ipsi Regnoque' denuntiaret, ' ne jussa 
6 patrarentur.' Turn legatos et dona Scydrothemidi, Re- 
gi, (is tunc Sinopensibus imperitabat) expediri jubet : 
praecipitque navigaturis, ' ut Pythium Apollinem adeant.' 
Illis mare secundum : sors oraculi haud ambigua : ' irent, 
6 simulacrumque patris sui reveherent, sororis relinquerent.' 

LXXXIV. Ut Sinopem (v) venere, munera, preees, man- 
data Regis sui Scydrothemidi adlegant. Qui versus animi, 
modo Numen pavescere, modo minis adversantis populi 
terreri : saspe donis promissisque legatorum flectebatur. 
Atque interim triennio exacto, Ptolomaeus non studium, 
non preces, omittere. Dignitatem legatorum, numerum 
navium, auri pondus augebat. Turn minax facies Scydro- 
themidi offertur, ' ne destinata Deo ultra moraretur.* 

u The descendants of Eumolpus, called Eumolpidse, were the 
priests of Ceres, who presided over the rites called, from the town of 
Eleusis, ih?. Eleusinian mysteries. 

v Sinope, a city in the territory of Pontus. 



J. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUARTUS. 201 

Cunctantem varia pernicies morbique et manifesta coeles- 
tium ira graviorque in dies fatigabat. Advocata concione, 
4 jussa Numinis, suos Ptolemaeique visus, ingruentia mala* 
exponit. Vulgus adversari Regem, invidere -<Egypto 5 
sibi metuere templumque circumsidere. Major hinc fama 
tradidit, ' Deum ipsum adpulsas litori navis sponte con- 
scendisse.' Mirum inde dictu, tertio die, tantum maris 
emensi, Alexandriam adpeliuntur. Templum pro mag- 
nitudine urbis exstructum loco, cui nomen Rhacotis ; fue- 
rat illic sacellum, Serapidi atque Isidi antiquitus sacratum, 
Haec de origine et advectu Dei celeberrima. Nee sum 
ignarus, essequosdam, qui c Seleucia, urbe Syriae, accitum, 
' regnante Ptolemaeo, quern tertia a3tas tulit:' alii t aucto- 

* rem eundem Ptolemaeum, sedem, ex qua transient, 
4 Memphim' (w) perhibent, inclytam olim et veteris 
iEgypti columen. Deum ipsum multi * ^Esculapium, quod 
4 medeatur aegris corporibus :' quidam ' Osirin, antiquissi- 
1 mum illis gentibus Numen :' plerique ' Jovem, ut rerum 
i omnium potentem ;' plurimi ' Ditem patrem, insignibus. 
6 qua3 in ipso manifesta,' aut per ambages conjectant. 

LXXXV. At Domitianus Mucianusque, antequam Alpi- 
bus propinquarent, prosperos rerum in Treveris gestarura 
nuntios accepere, Prspcipua victoriae fides Dux hostium 
Valentinus, (x) nequaquam abjecto animo, quos spiritus 
gessissit, vultu ferebat. Auditus ideo tantum, ut noscere- 
tur ingenium ejus, damnatusque, inter ipsum supplicium, 
exprobranti cuidam ' patriam ejus captam, accipere se so- 
' latium mortis,' respondit. Sed Mucianus, quod diu oc- 
cultaverat, ut recens exprompsit : * quoniam benignitate 
4 Deum fractae vires hostium forent, parum decore Do mi- 
1 tianum, confecto prope bello, alienae gloriae interveuta- 

* rum. Si status Imperii aut salus Galliarum in discrimine 

* verteretur, debuisse Caesarem in acie stare : Caninefates 
' Batavosque minoribus Ducibus delegandos. Ipse Lug- 

* duni vim fortunnmque Principatus e proximo ostentaret, 

* nee parvis periculis inmixtus, et majoribus non defu- 

* turus. 5 

LXXXVI. Intelligebantur artes : sed pars obsequii in 
eo> ne deprehenderentur : ita Lugdunum ventum. Unde 
creditur Domitianus occultis ad Cerialem nuntiis fidem ejus 

to Memphis^ a-city of Egypt, famous for its pyramids, 
x See this book, s. 71. 

19 



202 



C. CORN. TAC1TI. 



a. v. c. 823. 



tentavisse, c an praesenti sibi exercitum Imperiumque tra~ 
< diturus foret :' qua cogitatione bellum adversus patrem, 
agitaverit, an opes viresque adversus fratrem, in incerto 
fuit : nam Cerialis salubri temperamento elusit, ut vana 
pueriliter cupientem. Domkianus, sperni a senioribus ju- 
ventam suam cernens, modica quoque et usurpata antea 
munia Imperii omittebat : simplicitatis ac modestiae ima- 
gine, in altitudinem conditus, studiumque litterarum et 
amorem carminum simulans, quo velaret animum et fratris 
aemulationi subduceretur, cujus di&parem mitioremque 
naturam contra interpretabatur. 



THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



TACITUS. 

BOOK V. 

CONTENTS. 
BOOK V. 

L Titus undertakes the conduct of the war against the Jews. He 
enters Judsea. The number of his forces. He encamps before 
the walls of Jerusalem. II. The origin of the Jews; their cus- 
toms, institutions and religion. VI. Their territory and bounda- 
ries ; Mount Libanus ; the river Jordan ; the lake that throws up 
pitch ; the vast tract of barren land ; the sands at the mouth of + he 
river Belus of use in making glass. VIII. Jerusalem, the capital 
city. Immense riches of the temple. Condition of the Jews un- 
der the Assyrians, the Medes, the Persians and the Macedonians. 
An account of their kings. IX. Pompey the first Roman general 
that besieged and took the city of Jerusalem. Herod raised to the 
throne by Marc Antony. Caligula ordered his statue to be placed 
in the temple. The Jews refused to comply. A new dispute with 
Gessius Florus the Roman governor. Vespasian sent by N°ro to 
conduct the war. XL Titus lays siege to Jerusalem. Strength 
and fortifications of the city and temple. Three armies in the cHy 
under three different generals. XIII. Prodigies before the siege 
began, but all neglected by the Jews, An ancient prophecy mis- 
interpreted, XIV. Further account of the war in Germany, un- 



C. eORN. TACITL a. u. e. 823. 

der Civilis. XV. Civilis and Cerealis, have various success in 
different battles. XIX. Civilis, with his whole force, enters the 
island of Batavia, and attacks the Roman garrisons. XXL Cerea- 
lis marches to the relief of the Romans. XXII. Cerealis, by his 
own want of caution, in danger of being taken by surprize, and 
carried off by the enemy in the night. XXIII. Civilis equips a 
naval armament on the vast bay near the mouth of the Meuse. 
Cerealis collects a number of vessels and offers battle. A slight 
naval engagement. This the last attempt of Civilis. He retires 
beyond the Rhine. The Romans in great danger from the floods, 
by which Batavia was laid under water. XXVI. Civilis inclined 
to terms of peace. A conference between him and Cerealis* The 
rest of this book is lost. 

These transactions past in the 

^earofRome. Of Christ. Consuls. 

S23. 70. Flavius Vespasianus, ] 

Titus his son. 



EjusDEManni principio Caesar Titus, perdomandae Judaese 
delectus a patre, et praelatis utriusque rebus militia cla- 
rus, (a) majore turn vi famaque agebat, certantibus provin- 
eiarum et exercituurn studiis. Atque ipse, ut super fortu- 
nam crederetur, decorum se promptumque in armis osten- 
debat, comitate et adloquiis officiaprovocans : ac plerumque 
in opere, in agmine, gregario militi mixtus, inconrupto Du- 
eis honore. Tres eum rn Judasa legiones, quinta, et deci- 
ma et quintadecima, (b) vetus Vespasiani miles, excepere* 
Addidit e Syria duodecimam et adductos Alexandria duoet- 
ricesimanos tertianosque. Comitabantur viginti sociae cohor- 
tes, octo equitum alaa : simul Agrippa Sohemusque, Reges^ 
et auxilia Regis Antiochi, validaque et, solito inter adcolas 
odio infensa Judaeis Arabum manus : multi, quos urbe atque 
Italia sua quemque spes acciverat occupandi Principem 
adhuc vacuum. His cum copiis fines hostium ingressus, 
composito agmine, cuncta explorans, paratusque decernere ? 
baud procul Hierosolymis castra facit. 

II. Sed, quia famosae urbis supremum diem tradituri su- 
inus, congruens videtur, primordia ejusaperire. (e) ' Ju« 

a Titus had served with his father in Britain, Germany and Judaea. 

b See an account of the army under Titus ; Josephus, Bell. Jud. 
b. v. c. 6. 

c This account of the origin of the Jewish nation has been the 
subject of much elaborate criticism. The commentators are not a 
little surprised that a historian, of an enlarged and comprehensive 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. qUINTUS. 205 

1 daeos, Creta insula profugos, novissima Libyae insedisse,' 
memorant, ' qua tempestate Saturnus, vi Jovis pulsus, cetf- 
4 serit regnis :' (argumentum e nomine petitur : i inclytum 
4 in Creta Idam montem, adcolas Idaeos ; aucto in barbaruai 
'cognomento, Judaeos vocitari:') quidam, ' regnante Iside, 
4 exundantem per iEgyptum mukitudinem, ducibus Hiero- 
4 solymo ac Juda, proximas in terras exoneratam :' pleri- 
que, 4 ^Etniopum prolem, quos Rege Cepbeo metus atque 
4 odium mutare sedes perpulerit.' Sunt, qui tradant, 4 As- 

* syrios (d) convenas, indi^um agrorum populum, parte 

* jEgypti potitos, mox proprias urbes Hebraeasque terras et 
4 propiora Syriae coluisse rura.' Alii, 4 Judaeorum initia, 
4 Solymos, carminibus Homeri celebratam gentem, conditam 

* urbem Hierosolyma nomine suo fecisse. 

III. Plurimi auctores consentiunt, 4 orta per JEgypium 
i tabe, (e) quae corpora foedaret, Regem Bocchorim, adito, 
4 Hammonis oraculo, remedium petentem, purgare Reg- 
4 num et id genus hominum, ut invisum Deis, alias in terras 
4 avehere 'jussum. Sic conquisitum conlectumque vulgus, 
'postquam vastis locis relictum sit, ceteris per lacrymas 
•torpentibus, Mosen, unum exsulum, monuisse, ne quam 
- Deorum hominumve opem exspectarent, utrinque deserti, 
4 sed sibi, ut Duci caelesti, crederent, primo cujus auxilio 
4 praesentes miserias pepulissent. 5 Adsensere atque omnium 
ignari fortuitum iter incipiunt. Sed nihil aeque, quam ino- 

roind, should not have thought it worth his while to gain the most 
exact information concerning a people, whose final ruin he was to re- 
late. The Jews, it is true, were beheld by the Romans with con- 
tempt and detestation. Tacitus charges the nation with a fixed and 
sullen hatred of all mankind ; and it is therefore probable, that, with 
regard to such a race, he did not think it necessary to enter into a mi- 
nute inquiry, though the materials were within his reach. 

d We have in this passage, something that borders on the truth, 
Abraham went forth from the Ur of the Chaldees ; Genesis, xi. v. 31. 
He went into Egypt to sojourn there, Gen. xii. v. 10. The history of 
his posterity in Egypt, and the journey into Syria, and the land of 
Canaan, clearly prove the descent of the Jew3 from Abraham, and 
throw a light upon what our author says of their Assyrian origin. 
Tacitus, however, not having investigated the fact, gives the various 
opinions that were floating in the world, and leaves the truth to rest 
on better authority. 

e Justin mentions this epidemic distemper, and calls it seabiem et 
vililiginem ; that is, the leprosy. That the passage through the Red 
Sea, should be omitted by Tacitus, cannot be a matter of wonder, 
since it is related even by Josephus, in a manner that adds no authen* 
tkity to the miracle, 

19* 



206 C CORN. TAC1T1. a. u. c. 823, 

pia aquae fatigabat. Jamque haucl procul exitio, totis campis 
procubuerant : cum grex asm or urn agrestium, (/) e pastu 
in rupeni, nemore opacam, concessit. Secutus Moses, con- 
jectura herbidi soli, largas aquarum venas aperit. Id leva- 
men : et continuum sex dierum iter emensi, septimo, pulsis 
cultoribus, obtinuere terras, in quis urbs et templum dicata. 
IV. Moses, quo sibi in posterum gentem firmaret, novos 
ritus (g) contrariosque ceteris mortalibus indidit. Profana 
illic omnia, quae apud nos sacra : (h) rursum concessa apud 
Ulos, quae nobis incesta. Effigiem animalis, (i) quo mon- 
strante errorem sitimque depulerant, penetrali sacravere : 
caeso ariete,velut in contumeliam Hammonis. Bos qucque 
inmolatur, quern iEgyptii Apin colunt. Sue abstinent, me- 
moria cladis, qua ipsos scabies quondam turpaverat, cui id 
animal obnoxium. Longam olim famem crebris adhuc je- 
juniis fatentur : et raptarum frugum argumentum panis Ju- 
daicus, nullo fermento, retinet. 'Septimo die (j) otium 
4 placuisse, 5 ferunt : ' quia is fineni laborum tulerit: dein, 
1 blandiente inertia, septimum quoque annum ignaviae da- 
' turn.' Alii, 4 honorem eum Saturno haberi : seu principia 
* religionis tradentibus Idaeis, quos eum Saturno pulsos et 

/ This discovery of springs in a shady grove, calls to mind what 
Moses says : And they came to Elim where were twelve wells of wa- 
ter, and threescore and ten palm trees, Ex.xv. v 27. Where Taci- 
tus found the romantic incident of the troop of wild asses does not ap- 
pear. The story is amusing, and probably was adopted in the narra-. 
tive, to prepare the reader for the consecration of that animal, as 
mentioned in the following section. 

g Moses introduced a system of religion very different from the ; 
polytheism and superstitious ceremonies of the Romans. Tacitus 
speaks with marked disapprobation ; but the errors of prejudice have 
been long since refuted. 

h Whatever was sacred at Rome, was, beyond all doubt, profane 
at Jerusalem." The Jews worshipped one God, and, by consequence^ 
the pagan- mythology fell into contempt. 

i The veneration here said to have been paid in the temple to the 
image of an ass, is refuted by Tacitus himself, who says in the follow- 
ing section, that the Jews suffered no consecrated statues or images 
to be erected either in their cities or temples. He tells us afterwards, 
that when Pompey conquered Jerusalem, and made his entry into 
the temple, he found neither statues nor images, but a void and emp- 
ty tabernacle. See this book, s. 9. 

j The seventh day was a day of rest, but not for the reason given 
by Tacitus. See Exodus, xx. v. 10 and 11. The seventh year was 
also a year of rest, not for the sake of sluggish inactivity, but in cop- 
sequence of an express command. fSee Lev, xxv. v. 3 and 4. 



j. c. TO. HISTOK. LIB. QCttNTUS. 207 

• conditore gentis accepimus, sea quod e septem sideribus, 
4 quis mortales reguntur, altissimo orbe et praecipua po*en- 
' tia, Stella Saturni feratur : ac pleraque caelestium vim 
1 sium et cursum septimos per numeros confidant, (k) 

V. Hi ritus, quoquo modo inducti, antiquitate defendun- 
tur : cetera instituta sinistra feeda pravitate valuere. (I) Nam 
pessimus quisque, spretis religionibus patriis, tributa et 
stipes illuc gerebant : (m) unde auctae Judaeorum res. Et, 
quia apud ipsos tides obstinata, misericordia in promtu, sed 
adversus omnes alios hostile odium, separati epulis, discreti 
cubilibus, projectissima ad libidinem gens, alienarum concu- 
bitu abstinent ; inter se nihil inlicitum ; circumcidere geni- 
talia instituere, ut diversitate noscantur. Transgressi in 
morem eorum idem usurpant : nee quidquam prius inbuun- 
tur, quam contemnere Deos, exuere patriam, parentes, li- 
beros, fratres, vilia habere. Augendae tamen raultitudini 
consulitur. Nam etnecare quemquam ex agnatis, nefas : (n) 
animasque prcelio aut suppliciis peremptorum aeternas pu- 
tant. Hinc generandi amor et moriendi contemptus. Cor- 
pora condere, quam cremare, e more J&gyptlo : eademque 
cura, et de infernis persuasio : (o) ccelestiura contra. 
iEgyptii pleraque animalia effigiesque compositas veneran- 

k Tacitus says the life of man is governed by the revolutions of the 
seven planets That doctrine was not only taught by the Egyytian 
and Pythagorean philosophy, but has been adopted by modern as- 
trologers. 

/ The force of national prejudice was never more strongly display t 
ed. Tacitus thought nothing orthodox, but the creed of his own 
country ; and in his eyes, the depravity of the Jews consisted in pre- 
ferring the worship of one God to that of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and 
the rest of the monstrous deities with which superstition had peopled 
heaven. 

m The Jews were not entirely confined within the limits of Pales- 
tine ; they went forth in quest of gain, and settled in every quarter 
where trade and commerce flourished. Wherever they fixed them- 
selves, they retained their own principles, and despised the establish- 
ed religion of the place. Not being able to attend the tabernacle 
with their offerings, they collected among themselves annual tribute, 
and sent it to the temple, at Jerusalem. Hence the immense quanti- 
ties of gold and silver that fell into the hands of the Romans ; and 
hence the Jews were said to love one another, and hate the rest of 
mankind. 

n The Romans had the power of life and death over their own chil- 
dren, and were unwilling to be incumbered with a numerous issue. 

o The Egyptians believed in a future state of rewards and punish 
ments. See Diodorus Siculus, booki, s. 51-. 



C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 32-3. 

tur : Judaei mente sola unumque Numen intelligunt. ■ Pro- 
4 fanos, qui Deihii imagines mortalibus materiis in species 
4 hominuui effingant : summum illud et aeternurn, neque 
4 mutabile, neque interiturum.' (p) Igitur nulla simulacra 
urbibus suis, nedum templis, sinunt. Non Regibus haec 
aduiatio, non Caesaribus honor. Sed, quia Sacerdotes eorum 
tibia tympanisque concinebant, hedera vinciebantur, vitis- 
que aurea templo reperta, 4 Liberum Patrem coli. domito- 
4 rem Orientis,' quidam arbitrati sunt, nequaquam congru- 
entibus institutis : quippe Liber festos laetosque ritus posuit ; 
JudaBorum mos absurdus sordidusque. (q) 

VI. Terra finesque, qua ad Orientem vergunt, Arabia (r) 
terminantur : a meridie jEgyptus objacet ; ab occasu Phoe- 
nices et mare : septentrionem a latere Syrise longe prospec- 
tant. Corpora hominum salubria et ferentia laborum : rari 
imbres, uber solum : freges nostrum ad raorem : praeterque 
eas balsamum et palmae. Pal metis proceritas et decor. 
Balsamuin modica arbor : ut quisque ramus intumuit, si vim 
ferri adhibeas, pavent venae ; fragmine lapidis aut testa 
aperiuntur : humor in usu medentium est. Praecipuum 
montium Libanum erigit, mirum dictu, tantos inter ardores 
opacum fidumque nivibus. Idem amnem Jordanem alit fun- 
ditque. Nee Jordanes pelago accipitur : sed unum atque 
alterum lacum (5) integer perfluit, tertio retinetur. Lacus 
inmenso ambitu, specie maris, sapore conruptior, gravitate 
odoris adcolis pestifer, neque vento inpellitur, neque pisces 

p We have here a sublime idea of one great supreme and govern- 
ing mind ; of one omnipotent, eternal God. It is astonishing that 
Tacitus did not pause, in deep reflection, upon what he could so well 
describe. 

q The Roman dies ftslus signified a day consecrated to joy, and 
song, and dance, and public spectacles. It was otherwise with the 
Jews. At stated periods they commemorated public misfortunes ; 
and grief, and fasting, sackcloth and ashes, distinguished their religious 
ceremonies, wholly different from the rites of Bacchus, and therefore 
called absurd and sordid. Tacitus, it must be said, has given an 
unfavourable picture of the Jews. 

V Arabia extended from Egypt to Chaldaea, and from the Euphra- 
tes to the Arabian gulf. It is divided into three parts, viz. Arabia 
Felix, Petrcea and Deserta. 

s The first of the lakes is Samachonites, mentioned by Josephus ; 
the second Cennereth, by Joshua ; the third Asphaltus, called by 
Milton the Asphaltic Pool, by others Mare Mortuum, from the immo- 
bility of its waters It is said by Josephus to be 70 miles in length, 
and in some places 12 or 13 in breadth. 



y. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUINTUS. 209 

aut suetas aquis volucres patitur. (i) Incertse undse super- 
jacta, ut solido, ferutit : periti inperitique nandi perinde 
adtolluntur Certo anni bitumen egerit : cujus legendi 
usum, ut ceteras artes, experientia docnit. Ater suapte 
natura liquor, et sparso aceto concretus, innatat : hunc 
manu captum, quibus ea cura, in summa navis trahunt. Inde, 
nullo juvante, influit, oneratque, donee abscindas: nee ab- 
scindere aere ferrove possis : fugit cruorem vestemque in- 
fectam sanguine, quo feminae per menses exsolvuntur : sic 
veteres auctores. Sed gnari locorum tradunt, undantes bi- 
tumine moles pelli, manuque trahi ad litus : mox, ubi vapore 
terrse, vi solis, inaruerint, securibus cuneisque, ut trabes 
aut saxa, discindi. 

VII. Haud procul inde campi, quos ferunt olim uberes, 
magnisque urbibus habitatos, fulminum jactu arsisse ; (u) et 
manere vestigia, terramque ipsam, specie torridam, vim 
frugiferam perdidisse. Nam cuncta sponte edita, aut manu 
sata, sive herbae tenues aut flores, ut solitam in speciem 
adolevere, atra et inania velutin cinerem vanescunt. Ego, 
sicut inclitas quondam urbes igne ccelesti flagrasse conces- 
serim, ita halitu lacus infici terrain, conrumpi superfusum 
spiritum, eoque foetus segetum et autumni putrescere reor, 
solo coeloque juxta gravi. Et Belus (y) amnis Judaico mari 
inlabitur : circa cujus os conlectse arenas, admixto nitro, in 
vitrum excoquuntur, modicum id litus et egerentibus inex- 
haustum. 

VIII. Magna pars Judaeae vicis dispergitur : habent et 
oppida. Hierosolyma genti caput. Illic inmensae opulen- 

t All travellers agree as to the noxious taste and smell of the As- 
phaltie lake. Pococke says, that the water impregnated with salt and 
sulphur weighs much more than fresh water, and consequently lets 
nothing sink. 

It is related by Josephus, that Vespasian, in order to make an ex-* 
periment, ordered some prisoners, with their hands tied behind 
their backs, to be thrown into the lake ; when they all emerged and 
floated on the surface. See Josephus, Bell. Jud lib. iv. ver. 8. 

u The cities were Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim. Gene- 
sis, xiv. verse 2. The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brim* 
stone and fire, and he overthrew those cities and all the plain. Gen, 
xix. v. 24 and 25. 

v Belus, a river of Galilee, running from the foot of mount Carmel, 
and emptying itself into the Mediterranean. Strabo says that the 
whole coast has a sand fit for glass, but that of the river Belus is the 
best. Here the art of making glass was first discovered. See Pliny, 
feook v. s. 19. 



210 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 823.. 

tiae templum, et primis munimentis urbs, deia Regia : tern- 
plum intimis clausum : ad fores tantum Judaeo aditus : limi- 
ne, praeter Sacerdotes, arcebantur. Dum Assyrios penes 
Medosque et Persas Oriens fuit, despectissima pars servi- 
entium : postquam Macedones praepotuere, Rex Antiochus, 
demere superstitionem et mores Graecorum dare adnixus, 
quo minus teterrimam gentem in melius mutaret, Parthorum 
bello prohibitus est : nam ea tempestate Arsaces descive- 
rat. Turn Judsei, Macedonibus invalidis, Parthis nondum 
adultis (et Romani procul erant) sibi ipsi Reges inposu- 
ere : (w) qui mobilitate vulgi expulsi, resumpta per arma 
dominatione, fugas civium, urbium eversiones, fratrum, 
conjugum, parentum neces aliaque solita Regibus ausi, su- 
perstitionem fovebant : quia honor Sacerdotii, firmamenturn 
potential, adsumebatur. 

IX. Romanorum primus Cn. Pompeius Judaeos domu- 
it : (x) templumque jure victoriae ingressus est. Inde vul- 
gaturn, ' nulla intus Deum effigie vacuam (y) sedem et ina- 
* nia arcana. Muri Hierosolymorum diruti, delubrum 
mansit. Mox, civili inter nos bello, postquam in ditionem 
M. Antonii provincial cesserant, Rex Parthorum Pacorus 
Judaea potitus, interfectusque a P. Ventidio, et Parthi trans 
Euphraten redacti: Judasos C. Sosius subegit. Regnum, 
ab Antonio Herodi datum, victor Augustus auxit. Post 
mortem Herodis, nihil exspectato Caesare, Simon quidam (z) 

w Justin informs us, that the power of Demetrius I. and his suc- 
cessors, kings of Syria, not being supported with vigor, the Jews took 
their opportunity to shake off a foreign yoke and assert their liberty. 
See Justin, lib. xxxvi. ver. 1 and 3. In confirmation of this, we 
read in Maccabees a treaty between Demetrius and Simon the high 
priest, A. U. C. 611 ; before Christ 143: and thus the yoke of the 
heathen was taken aivay from Israel, and the people of Israel began to 
write in their instruments and contracts, In the first year of Simon the 
high priest, the governor and leader of the Jews. 1 Maccabees, xiii. 
ver. 41 and 42. » 

x Pompey made himself master of Jerusalem, A. U. C. 691. He 
entered the temple and the Holy of Holies ; but according to Josephus, 
Jewish Antiquities, xiv. ver. 4- abstained from plunder, content with 
imposing an annual tribute. See Florus, lib. iii. cap. 5. and Cicero, 
pro Flacco, s. 28. 

y This passage affords another proof that the effigy of an ass was 
not consecrated in the temple, as mentioned by Tacitus, This book, 
see. 4 

z The Simon mentioned in this place must not be confounded with 
the chief of that name, who wa3 taken prisoner at the siege of Jerusa- 
lem, and afterwards executed at Rome. See App. to Hist. v. s. 20. 



J. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUINTUS. 211 

Regium nomen invaserat. Is a Quinctilio Varo, obtinente 
Syriam, punitus : et gentem coercitam liberi Herodis tri- 
partite rexere. Sab Tiberio quies : dein jussi a C. Caesare, 
' effigiem (a) ejus in templolocare,' arma potius sumsere : 
quern motum Ca3saris mors diremit. Claudius, defunctis 
Regibus aut ad modicum redactis, Judaeam provinciam Equi- 
tibus Romanis aut libertis permisit : e quibus Antonius Felix, 
per omnem saevitiam ac libidinem, jus Regium servili inge- 
nio exercuit, Drusilla, Cleopatrae et Antonii nepte, in matri- 
monium accepta : ut ejusdem Antonii Feiix progener, Clau- 
dius nepos esset. 

X. Duravit tamen patientia Judaeis usque ad Gessium 
Florum, Procuratorem. Sub eo bellum ortum : (b) et 
comprimere coeptantem Cestium Galium, (c) Syriae Lega- 
tum, varia proelia ac saepius adversa excepere. Qui ubi 
fato, aut taedio occidit, missu Neronis Vespasianus fortuna 
famaque et egregiis ministris, intra duas aestates, cuncta cam- 
porum omnesque, praeter Hierosolyma, urbes, victore ex- 
ercitu tenebat. (J) Proximus annus civili bello intentus, 
quantum ad Judaeos, per otium transiit. Pace per Italiam 
parta, et externa? curae rediere. Augebat iras, quod soli 
Judaei non cessissent. Simul manere apud exercitus Titum, 
ad omnes Principatus novi eventus casusve utilius videbatur. 
Igitur castris, uti diximus, ante mcenia Hierosolymorum 
positis, instructas legiones ostentavit. 

XL Judaei sub ipsos muros struxere aciem, rebus secun- 
dis longius ausuri, et, si pellerentur, parato perfugio. Mis- 
sus in eos eques cum expeditis cohortibus ambigue certavit. 
Mox cessere hostes, et sequentibus diebus crebra pro portis 
proelia serebant : donee adsiduis damnis intra moenia pelle- 
rentur. Romani ad oppugnandum versi : neque enim dig- 
num videbatur, famem hostium opperiri : poscebantque 
pericula, pars virtute, multi ferocia et cupidine praemiorum. 
Ipsi Tito Roma et opes voluptatesque ante oculos : ac, ni 
statim Hierosolyma conciderent, morari videbantur. Sed 

a Caligula had the frantic ambition to have his statue placed in the 
temple at Jerusalem ; but the Jews had recourse to arms : another 
proof of their resolution not to suffer the tabernacle to be profaned by 
images of any kind. 

6 The Jewish war, occasioned by the misconduct of Florus, began 
A.U. C.818 SeeApp to Hist. v. s. 4. 

c For more of Cestius Gallus, see App. to Hist. v. s. 4. 

d Vespasian's rapid success agaiiwt the Jews was A. U. C. 820 and 
821. 



212 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. e. 823. 

urbem, arduam situ, opera molesque firmaverant, quis vel 
plana satis munirentur. Nam duos colles, (e) inmensum 
editos, claudebant muri, per artem obliqui, aut introrsus 
sinuati : ut latera oppugnantium ad ictus patescerent. Ex- 
trema rupis abrupta : et turres, ubi mons juvisset, in sexa- 
ginta pedes, inter devexa, in centenos vicenosque adtolle- 
bantur: mira specie, ac procul intuentibus pares. Alia 
intus moenia, Regies circumjecta : conspicuoque fastigio 
turris ' Antonia,' in honorem M. Antonii ab Herode adpel- 
lata. 

XII. Templum (/) in modum arcis propriique muri, 
labore et opere ante alios : ipsae porticus, quis templum 
ambiebatur, egregium propugnaculum. Fonsperennis aquae, 
cavati sub terra montes : et piscinae cisternaeque servandis 
imbribus : praeviderant conditores, ex diversitate morum, 
crebra bella : inde cuncta quamvis adversus longum obsi- 
dium : et a Porapeio expugnatis metus atque usus pleraque 
monstravere. Atque, per avaritiam Claudianorum tempo- 
rum empto jure muniendi, struxere muros (g) in pace, 
tamquam ad bellum : magna conluvie et ceterarum urbium 
clade aucti : nam pervicacissimus quisque illuc perfugerat, 
eoque seditiosius agebant. Tres Duces, totidem exerci- 
tus. Extrema et latissima moenium Simon, quem et Bargio- 
ram vocabant, mediam urbem Joannes, templum Eleazarus, 
firmaverat. Multitudine et armis Joannes ac Simon, Elea- 
zarus loco, pollebat. Sed proelia, (h) dolus, incendia inter 
ipsos, et magna vis frumenti ambusta. Mox Joannes, missis 
per specie m sacrificandi, qui Eleazarum manumque ejus 
obtruncarent, templo potitur : ita in duas factiones civitas 
discessit, donee, propinquantibus Romanis, bellum externum 
concordiam pareret. 

c Duos colles. These were, mount Sion to the south, and Acra 
to the north. The former, being the loftiest, was called the upper, 
and Acra the lower city. The walls of each were washed on the 
outside by a broad and rapid stream that rushed like a torrent from 
west to east, through the valley)* of Hinnom and Cedron, to the foot 
©f the mount of Olives. See App. s. 5. 

/ For a description of the temple, see Josephus, Bell. Jud. v. cap. 
5 ; and App. to this book, s. 5. 

g Pompey had destroyed the outward walls of Jerusalem, as men- 
tioned in this book, s. 9. The fortifications, we find, were made 
stronger than ever. See Josephus, Bell. J ad v, cap 4. 

h The partizans of the various factions that distracted the city of 
Jerusalem, attacked one another with a degree of animosity, more in- 
veterate than they ever showed in battle with the Romans. 



S, c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUINTUS. 2l3 

XIII. Evenerant prodigia, quae neque hostiis, neque 
votis piare (i) fas habet gens superstitioni obnoxia, religi- 
onibus adversa. Visse per coelum concurrere acies, ruti- 
lantia arma et subito nubium igne conlucere templum. Ex- 
passae repente delubri fores et audita major humana vox, 
c Excedere Deos :' simul ingens motus excedentium. 
Quae pauci in metum trahebant : pluribus persuasio inerat, 
antiquis Sacerdotum litteris contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, 
ut valesceret Oriens profectique Judaea rerum potirentur ; 
quae ambages Vespasianum ac Titum praedixerant. Sed 
vulgus, more humanae cupidinis, sibi tantam fatorum magni- 
tudinem interpretati, ne adversis quidem ad vera mutaban- 
tur. (j) Multitudinem obsessorum, omnis aetatis, virile ac 
muliebre secus, sexcenta millia (k) fuisse accepimus. Ar- 
ma cunctis, qui ferre possent : etplures, quam pro numero, 
audebant. Obstinatio viris feminisque par : ac, si trans- 
ferre sedes cogerentur, major vitae metus, quam mortis. 
Hanc adversus urbem gentemque Caesar Titus, quando im- 
petus et subita belli locus abnueret, aggeribus vineisque 
certare statuit. Dividuntur legionibus munia, et quies prae- 
liorum fuit : donee cuncta expugnandis urbibus reperta 
apud veteres, aut novis ingeniis, struerentur. 

XIV. At Civilis, post malam in Treveris pugnam, repa- 
rato per Germaniam exercitu, apud Vetera castra (Z) conse- 
dit : tutus loco, et ut memoria prosperarum illic rerum 
au2:escerent barbarorum animi. Secutus est eodem Ceria- 



i When the Romans heard of a monstrous birth, or were told that 
an ox had spoken, their priests employed superstitious rites and sa- 
crifices to avert the impending danger. The Jews were not so easily 
alarmed ; but howeverinclined they formerly had been, to propitiate 
H p aven by prayer and sacrifice, their final doom was drawing nigh, 
as foretold by Christ. Matthew, xxiv. Mark, xiii. Luke, xxi. 

j Tacitus condemns the Jews for not rightly understanding a pro- 
phecy, which he himself has misapplied. But it is evident that it 
could not relate to the short reign of Vespasian and his two sons. The 
Christian religion was at that time, striking root in Judaea, and we 
know that it has been since greatly extended. We cannot, however, 
wonder at the misconception of Tacitus, when it is considered that 
Josephus, willing, perhaps, to pay his court to the imperial family, 
did not hesitate to say that the prophecy related to Vespasian. Bell. 
Jud. vi cap. s, 

k Josephus says, that eleven hundred thousand perished during the 
siege. Bell. Jud vi, cap. 9. 

I For Vetera Casira, see Hist. iv. s. 18. note (h.) Civilis had made 
himself master of the place. Hist. iv. s. 60. 

20 



214 



C. CORN. TACIT1. 



a. u. c. 823. 



lis, duplicatis copiis, aclventu secundae et sextae et quartas- 
decimae legionum. Cohortesque et alae, jampridem acci- 
tae, post victoriam properaverant. Neuter Ducum cunc- 
tator. Sed arcebat latiludo camporum, suopte ingenio hu- 
mentium. Addiderat Civilis obliquam in Rhenum molem, 
cujus objectu revolatus amnis adjacentibus superfundere- 
tur. Ea loci forma, incertis vadis subdola et nobis adver- 
sa : quippe miles Romanus armis gravis et nandi pavidus ; 
Germanos, fluminibus suetos, levitas armorum et proceri- 
tas corporum acltollit. 

XV. Igitur lacessentibus Batavis, ferocissimo euique 
nostrorum coeptum certamen : deinde orta trepidatio, cum 
praealtis paludibus arma, equi, haurirentur. Germani notis 
vadis persultabant, omissa plerumque fronte, latera ac ter- 
ga circumvenientes : neque, ut in pedestri acie, cominus 
certabatur ; sed, tamquam navali pugna, vagi inter undas, 
aut, si quid stabile occurrebat, totis illic. corporibus niten- 
tes, vulnerati cum integris, periti nandi cum ignaris in mu- 
tuam perniciem inplicabantur : minor tamen, quam pro 
tumultu, csedes : quia, non ausi egredi paludem Germani, 
in castra rediere. Ejus proelii eventus utrumque Ducem, 
diversis animi motibus, ad maturandum summa3 rei discri- 
men erexit. Civilis instare fortunae ; Cerialis abolere ig- 
nominiam. Germani prosperis feroces ; Romanos pudor 
excitaverat : nox apud barbaros cantu aut clamore, nostris 
per iram et minas, acta. 

XVI. Postera luce, Cerialis equite et auxiliariis cohor- 
tibus frontem explet : in secuncla acie legiones locatae : 
Dux sibi delectos retinuerat ad inprovisa. Civilis haud 
porrecto agmine, sed cuneis, adstitit. Batavi Gugernique 
in dextro ; laeva ac propria fluminis Transrhenani tenuere. 
Exhortatio Ducum, non more concionis apud universos, 
sed ut quosque suorum advebebantur. Cerialis ' veterem 

* Romani nominis gloriam, antiquas recentesque victorias : 
5 ut perfidum, ignavum, victum hostem, in aeternum exci- 
c derent : ultione magis, quam proelio, opus esse. Paucio- 
' res nuper cum pluribus certasse : attamen fusos Germa- 
i nos quod roboris fuerit. Superesse, qui fugam animis, 

* qui vulnera tergo, ferant.' Proprios inde stimulos legi- 
onibus admovebat, ' domitores Britanniae quartadecimanos' 
adpellans : * Principem Galbam sextae legionis auctoritate 

* factum : ilia primum acie secundanos nova signa novam- 
< que aquilam dicaturos.' Hinc, praevectus ad Germani- 



i. c, 70. HISTOR. LIB. QUINTUS, 215 

cum exercitam, inanus tendebat, ' ut suam ripam, c ua 
4 castra, sanguine hostium reciperarent.' Alacrior omni- 
um clamor, quis vel e longa pace proelii cupido, vel fessis 
bello pacis amor, praemiaque et quies in posterum spera- 
bantur. 

XVII. Nee Civilis silentem struxit aciem, locum pugnas 
testem virtutis ciens : ' stare Germanos Batavosque super 
'vestigia gloriae, cineres ossaque legionum calcantes: 
' quocunque oculos Romanus intenderet, captivitatem, 
1 clademque et dira omnia observari. Ne terrerentur 

* vario Treverici proalii eventu : suam illic victoriana 

* Germanis obstitisse, dum, oraissis telis, praeda manus in- 

* pediunt : sed cuncta mox prospera et hosti contraria 
c evenisse. Quas provideri astu Ducis oportuerit, pro- 

* visa : campos madentes et ipsis gnaros ; paludes hosti- 

* bus noxias. Rhenum et Germaniae Deos in adspectu : 
' quorum numine capesserent pugnam, conjugum, paren- 

* turn, patriae memores : ilium diem aut gloriossimum inter 
6 majores, aut ignominiosum apud posteros, fore.' Ubi 
sono armorum (/») tripudiisque (ita illis mos) adprobata 
sunt dicta, saxis glandibusque et ceteris missilibus proelium 
incipitur : neque nostro milite paludem ingrediente, et 
Germanis, ut elicerent, lacessentibus. 

XVIII. Absumptis, quaB jaciuntur, et ardescente pugna, 
procursum ab hoste infestius : inmensis corporibus et prae- 
longis hastis fluitantem labantemque militem eminus fodie- 
bant : simul e mole, quam eductam in Rhenum retulimus, 
Bructerorum cuneus tranavit : turbataibi res : et pelleba- 
tur sociarum cohortium acies, cum legiones pugnam exci- 
piunt, suppressaque hostium ferocia, prcelium aequatur. 
Inter qua3 perfuga Batavus adiitCerialem, ■ terga hostium 5 
promittens, ' si extremo paludis eques mitteretur : soli- 
'. dum ilia, et Gugernos, quibus custodia obvenisset, parum 
i intentos.' Duae alae, cum perfuga missae, incauto hosti 
circumfunduntur : quod ubi clamore cognitum, legiones a 
fronte incubuere, pulsique Germani Rhenum fuga pete- 
bant. Debellatum eo die foret, si Romana classis sequi 
maturasset. Ne eques quidem institit, repente fusis im- 
bribus et propinqua nocte. 

XIX. Postera die, quartadecima legio in superiorem 
provinciam Gallo Annio missa : Cerialis exercitum decima 

m See the manners of the Germans, ^. Jl, 



216 C. CORN. TACIT'I. a» v. c. 023. 

ex Hispania legio supplevit. Civili Chaucorum auxilia 
venere. Non tamen ausus oppida Batavorum (n) armis 
tueri, raptis, quae ferri poterant, ceteris injecto igni, in 
insuiam concessit : gnarus, deesse naves efficiendo ponti, 
neque exercitum Romanum aliter transmissurum : quin et 
diruit molem, (o) a Druso Germanico factam, Rhenumque, 
prono alveo in Galliam ruentem, disjectis, quae moraban- 
tur, effudit. Sic velut abacto amne, tenuis alveus, insu- 
iam inter Germanosque, continentium terrarum speciem 
facerat. Transiere Rhenum Tutor quoque et Classicus 
et centum tredecim Treverorum Senatores : in quis fuit 
Alpinus Montanus, quem a Primo Antonio missum in Gal- 
lias superius memoravimus. Comitabatur eum frater D. 
Alpinus. Simul ceteri miseratione ac donis auxilia conci- 
bant, inter gentes periculorum avidas. 

XX. Tantumque belli superfuit, utprassidia cohortium^ 
alarum, legionum, uno die Civllis quadripartite invaserit : 
decimam legionem Arenaci, secundam Batavoduri, et Grin- 
nes Vadamque, (p) cohortium alarumque castra ; ita divi- 
sis copiis ut ipse et Verax, sorore ejus genitus, Classicus - 
que ac Tutor suam quisque manum traherent : nee omnia 
patrandi ftducia ; sed < multa ausis aliqua in parte fortunam 
I adiore. Simul Cerialem neque satis cautum > et pluribus 
* nuntiis hue illuc cursantem, posse medio intercipi.' Qui- 
bus obvenerant castra decumanorum, oppugnationem le- 
gionis arduam rati, egressum militem, et csedendis materiis 
operatum, turbavere, occiso Praefecto castrorumet quinque 
primoribus Centurionum paucisque militibus. Ceteri se 
munimentis defendere. Et interim Germanorum manus 
Batavoduri rumpere inchoatum pontern nitebantur. 

XXI. Ambigaum proelium nox diremit. Plus discrimi- 
nis apud Grinnes Vadamque. Vadam Civilis, Grinnes 
Classicus, oppugnabant : nee sisti poterant, interfecto for- 
tissimo quoque ; in quis Briganticus, Praefectus alae, ceci- 



n These towns lay between the Meuse and the Rhine, supposed to 
be Gennep, Cleves and Nimeguen* 

o For an account of the bank constructed by Drusus, see Ann. xxiiL 
s. 53. 

p Arenacum, an ancient town in the Island of Batavia ; now Arn- 
heim, in Guelderland. Batavodurum, a town in the Island of Bata- 
via; now, as some of the commentators say, Wyk-te-duur-stede« 
Grinnes, a town of the Batavians, on the right side of the Vabalis, m 
the territory of Utrecht. l r ada+ a town of Batavia, 



i. c. 70, HISTOR. LIB. QUINTUS. 217 

derat ; quera fidum Romanis et Civili, avunculo, infensum 
diximus. (9) Sed, ubi Cerialis cum delecta equitum raanu 
subvenit, versa fortuna, praecipites Germani in amnera 
aguntur. Civilis, dum fugientes retentat, agnitus, petitus- 
que telis, relicto equo, tranatavit : idem Veracis effugium. 
Tutorem Classicumque adpulsae lintres vexere. Ne turn 
quidem Romana classis pugnae adfuit, ut jussum erat ; sed 
obstitit forraido et remiges per alia militias munia disperse 
Sane Cerialis parum teraporis ad exsequenda imperia da- 
bat : subitus consiliis, sed eventu clarus. Aderat fortuna, 
etiam ubi artes defuissent : hinc ipsi exercituique minor 
cura disciplinaB. Et paucos post dies, quamquam pericu- 
lum captivitatis evasisset, infamiam non vitavit. 

XXL Profectus Novesium Bonnamque ad visenda castra, 
quae hiematuris legionibus erigebantur, navibus remeabat : 
disjecto agmine, incuriosis vigiliis. Animadversum id Ger- 
manis : et insidias composuere : electa nox atra nubibus, 
et prono amne rapti, nullo prohibente, vallum ineunt. 
Prima caedes astu adjuta : incisis tabernaculorum funibus, 
suismet tentoriis coopertos trucidabant. Aliud agmen tur- 
bare classem : injicere vincla: trabere puppes. Utque ad 
fallendum silentio, ita, ccepta caede, quo plus terroris ad- 
derent, cuncta clamoribus miscebant. Romani, vulneribus 
exciti, quaerunt arma, ruunt per vias, pauci ornatu militari, 
plerique circum brachia torta veste et strictis mucronibus. 
Dux semisomnus ac prope intectus errore hostium serva- 
tur. Namque Praetoriam navem vexillo insignem, illic 
Ducem rati, abripiunt. Cerialis alibi noctem egerat, ut 
plerique credidere, ob stuprum Claudiae Sacratae, mulieris 
Ubiae : vigiles flagitium suum Ducis dedecore excusebant, 
tamquam ' jussi silere, ne quietem ejus turbarent : ita, in- 
* termisso signo et vocibus, se quoque in somnum lapsos.' 
Multa luce revecti hostes, captivis navibus, Praetoriam 
triremem flumine Luppia (V) donum Veledae traxere. 

XXIII. Civilem cupido incessit navalem aciem osten- 
tandi. Complet, quod biremium, quaeque simplici ordine 
agebantur. Adjecta ingens lintrium vis, tricenos quadra- 
genosque ferentium : armamenta Liburnicis solita : et 
simul aptae lintres sagulis versicoloribus haud indecore pro 
velis juvabantur. Spatium velut aequoris electu, quo Mo- 

9 See Hist. iv. s. 70. 

r Luppia, a river of Westphalia; now theLippe. 
9C\ * 



218 



C. CORN. TACITI. 



a. u. c. 823. 



sae fluminis os (5) amnem Rhenum Oceano adfundit. Caus- 
sa instru^ndas classis, super insitam genti vanitatem, ut eo 
terrore commeatus Gallia adventantes interciperent. Ce- 
rialis miraculo magis, quam metu, direxit classem, numero 
inparem, usu remigum, guhernatorum arte, navium mag- 
nitudine potiorem. His flumen secundum; illi vento 
agebantur. Sic praevecti, tentato levium telorum jactu, 
dirimuntur. Civilis nihil ultra ausus, trans Rhenum con- 
cessit. Cerialis, insulam Batavorum hostiliter populates, 
agros villasque Civilis intactos, nota arte Ducum, sinebat : 
cum interim, ftexu autumni et crebris per hiemem imbri- 
bn^, superfusus amnis palustrem humilemque insulam in 
faciem stagni opplevit, nee classis aut commeatus aderant : 
castraque, in piano sita, vi fluminis differebantur. 

XXIV. * Potuisse tunc opprimi legiones, et voluisse 
1 Germanos, sed dolo a se flexos,' inputavit Civilis. Ne- 
que abhorret vero, quando paucis post diebus deditio 
insecuta est. Nam Cerealis per occultos nuntios * Batavis 
' pacem, Civili veniam,' ostentans, Veledam, propinquos- 
que monebat, ' fortunam belli, tot cladibus adversam, 

* opportuno erga Populum Romanum merito mutare. Ca?- 
1 sos Treveros, receptos Ubios, ereptam Batavis patriam : 

* neque aliud Civilis amicitia paratum, quam vulnera, fu- 
E gas, luctus : exsulem eum et extorrem recipientibus 
; oneri : et satis peccavisse, quod totiens Rhenum trans- 
i scenderint : si quid ultra moliantur, inde injuriam et 
' culpam, hinc ultionem et Deos fore.' 

XXV. Miscebantur minis promissa. Et, concussa Trans- 
rhenanorum fide, inter Batavos quoque sermones orti : 

* non prorogandam ultra ruinam : nee posse ab una na- 

* tione totius orbis servitium depelli: quid perfectum 

* caede et incendiis legionum, nisi ut plures validioresque 

* accirentur ? Si Vespasiano bellum navaverint, Vespasia- 

* num rerum potiri ; sin Populum Romanum armis provo- 
1 cent, quotam partem generis humani Batavos esse ? respi- 
4 cerent Rha?tos Noricosque et ceterorum onera sociorum s 

* sibi non tributa, sed virtutem et viros indici : proximum 

* id libertati : et, si dominorum electio sit, honestius Prin- 

* cipes Romanorum, quam Germanorum feminas tolerari : 5 
haec vulgus. Proceres ; ' atrociore Civilis rabie semet ia 

* arma tnjsos : ilium domesticis malis excidium gentis op- 



& For a description of the mouth of the Meuse, see An». ii. s- & 



j. c. 70. HISTOR. LIB. QJJINTUS. 219 

4 posuisse : tunc infensos Batavis Deos, cum obsiderentur 
4 legiones, interficerentur Legati, bellum uni necessarium, 

* ferale ipsis sumeretur. Ventum ad extrema, ni resipis- 

* cere incipiant, et noxii capitis poena poenitentiam fate- 

* antur.' 

XXVI. Non fefellit Civilem ea inclinatio, et praevenire 
statuit : super taedium malorum, etiam spe vitae, quae pie- 
rumque magnos animos infringit. Petito conloquio, scin- 
ditur Nabaliae (t) fluminis pons : in cujus abrupta progressi 
Duces : et Civilis ita ccepit : 4 si apud Vitellii Legatum 

* defenderer ; neque facto meo venia, neque dictis fides, 

* debebatur. Cuncta inter nos inimica, hostilia, ab illo 
4 coepta a me aucta erant. Erga Vespasianurn vetus mihi 
4 observantia : et, cum privatus esset, amici vocabamur. 
4 Hoc Primo Antonio notum, cujus epistolis ad bellum ac- 
4 citus sum, ne Germanicae legiones, et Gallica juventus 

* Alpes transcenderet. Quae Antonius epistolis, (w) Hor- 

* deonius Flaccus praesens monebat, arma in Germania 
4 movi, quae Mucianus in Syria, Aponius in Moesia, Flavia- 
4 nus in Pannonia.' (v) 

t Nabalia was the name of the channel made by Drusus from the 
Rhine to the river Sala. See Ann. ii. s. 8. 

u Letters were sent from Antonius, exciting Civilis to war, in or- 
der to hinder the legions on the Rhine from marching to the support 
of Vitellius, in Italy. See Hist. iv. s. 1 3. 

v The rest of the History is lost, and with it the siege of Jerusalem) 
with the reigns of Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, 




TREATISE 



ON THE 



SITUATION, MANNERS, AND PEOPLE 



OF 



GERMANY. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Th k time when the treatise on the German Manners was written, 
is fixed by Lipsius in the fourth consulship of Nerva, and the second 
of Trajan, A. U.C 851, A. D. 98. A passage in section 37, where Ta- 
citus mentions the second consulship of Trajan, clearly shows that the 
piece was composed in that year, or soon after. It is a draught of 
savage manners, delineated by a masterly hand ; the more interesting, 
as the part of the world which it describes was the seminary of the 
modern European nations ; the Vagina Gentium, as historians have 
emphatically called it. The work is short, but, as Montesquieu ob- 
serves, it is the work of a man who abridged every thing, because he 
knew every thing. It is for this reason that the following notes have 
swelled to a size, which may, at first sight, appear unwieldy ; but the 
subject merits attention ; it calls for something more than mere curso- 
ry observation. A thorough knowledge of the transactions of barba- 
rous ages will throw more light than is generally imagined on the 
laws of modern times. Wherever the barbarians, who issued from 
their northern hive, settled in new habitations, they carried with 



a. v. c. 823. C. CORN. TACITI, GERMANIA. 221 

them their native genius, their original manners, and the first rudi- 
ments of the political system which has pre vailed in different parts of 
Europe. They established monarchy and liberty ; subordination and 
freedom ; the prerogative of the prince and the right of the subject; 
all united in so bold a combination, that the fabric in some places 
stands to this hour the wonder of mankind. The British constitution, 
says Montesquieu, came out of the woods of Germany. What the 
state of Britain, was before the arrival of the Saxons, Tacitus has 
*hown in the Life of Agricola. If we add to his account what has 
been transmitted to us concerning the Germans and Britons by Julius 
Caesar, we shall see the origin of the Anglo-Saxon government, the 
great outline of that Gothic constitution, under which the British en- 
joy their rights and liberties at this hour. Montesquieu, speaking of 
his own country, declares it impossible to form an adequate notion of 
the French monarchy, and the changes of their government, without 
a previous inquiry into the manners, genius, and spirit of the German 
nations. Much of what was incorporated with the institutions of 
those fierce invaders, has flowed down in the stream of time, and still 
mingles with our modern jurisprudence. It is true, that in the pro- 
gress of society, arts and sciences have diffused new lights, and the 
civil union being, by consequence, better understood, milder laws, 
■and mere polished manners have well-nigh effaced all traces of bar- 
barism ; but still it will not be unpleasant, nor indeed useless, to go 
back to those days of ignorance. We shall view the waters at their 
fountain-head dark, foul, and muddy ; but by following them down- 
ward, we shall see them working themselves clear, and purified, at 
length, to a clear and limpid current. We shall gain a knowledge of 
the origin of laws, while we read the history of the human mind, 



CONTENTS. 

I. The extent and boundaries of Germany. II. The inhabitants, 
and origin of their name. III. Their rude verses, their bards and 
fabulous traditions. IV. Their fierce features, and size of their bo- 
dies. V. The nature of the soil, description of the cattle, and their 
want of gold and silver mines. VI. Scarcity of iron ; the arms in 
general use ; their horses ; the select hundred from every canton. 

VII. Their kings, their generals, and the authority of their priests. 

VIII. The courage of the German women, and their exhortations 
to the men in the most obstinate battles. The supersiitious venera- 
tion of the Germans for the female sex. IX. The gods of Germa- 
ny, viz. Mercury, Hercules, Mars, and Isis. The sacred groves 
their only sanctuaries. No idols, no images of their gods. X. Au- 
guries, forms of divination by chances, from the neighing of horses, 
and from captives taken in war. XI. Authority of the chiefs, how 
limited; public assemblies, and their dilatory meeting. XII. Pains 
and penalties ; fines for different offences, part to the persoo injured, 
and part to the chief, or the community. XIII. All business de- 
bated under arms. The spear and shield given to the young mes 



222 C. CORN. TACITI. a. w. c. 851. 

before the assembly of the State ; after that ceremony, manhood 
begins. The companions of the chieftains, and the valour and prin- 
ciples of both. War and rapine the only resources of the chiefs to 
support their followers. Cultivation of the soil neglected. XV. 
Indolence of the Germans in time of peace. The care of the house- 
hold left to the women. The custom of sending presents to the 
chiefs. XVI. Form of their villages ; no contiguous buildings ; 
subterraneous caves. XVII. Dress of the men and women. XVIII. 
Form of marriage contracts Polygamy, except a few instances, 
disallowed. Constancy of the German wives. XIX. Punishment 
of adultery inflicted by the husband. XX. Education of youth, 
and rules of succession to the property of the father. XXI. Duty 
of adopting the friendships and feuds of parents and relations. 
Composition for homicide, and other crimes. Their love of hospi- 
tality. XXII. Convivial meetings ; the custom of drinking deep ; 
quarrels in their liquor, and even in their public debates. XXIII. 
The liquor and food of the Germans. XXIV. Public spectacles, 
and their rage for gaming. XXV. The slaves are praedial servants ; 
the master has not the power of life and death over his slaves. 
Condition of the freedmen. XXVI. Partition and cultivation of 
the lands. The year divided into three seasons : autumn unknown. 

XXVII. Their funeral ceremonies without pomp or ostentation. 

XXVIII. Thus far the general manners : particular description of 
the several nations. The Gauls and Germans reciprocally passed 
over the Rhine in quest of habitations. The Helvetians, the 
Boians, originally Gauls. The Araviscians and Osians of doubtful 
extraction. The Trevsrians, Nervians, Vangiones, Trebocians, 
Nemete?. and Ubians, all natives of Germany. XXIX, The Bata- 
vians possessed of an island formed by the branches of the Rhine * 
a brave and warlike people. Community of the Mattiaci : the 
decuman lands, a tract of country subject to an impost of one tenth, 
XXX. The Cattians, a brave and warlike people, famous for the 
discipline of their infantry. Their vows to let their hair and beard 
grow till they kill an enemy. XXXII. Usipians and Tencterians : 
the strength of the latter consists in cavalry. XXXII. The Bruc- 
terians expelled from their territory by the Chamavians and An- 
grivarians. XXXIV. The Dulgibinians and Chasuarians ; the 
Greater and Lesser Frisia. XXXV. The Chaucians, bounded at 
the farthest extremity by the Northern Sea ; a people renowned for 
their love of justice. XXXVI. The Cheruscans and Fosians sub- 
dued by the Cattians. XXXVII. The Cimbrians, dwelling on the 
borders of the Northern Ocean ; now an inferior state, but their 
ancient glory still survives. XXXVIII. The Suevians, the greatest 
and most extensive state in all Germany. Their dress and man- 
ners. XXXIX. The Semnones, a part of the Suevian nation : 
their religious rites, human sacrifices, and other acts of superstition. 
XL. The Langobards, the Reudignians, the Aviones, Angles, Va- 
rinians, Eudosians, Nuithones, and Suardonians. The worship 
paid to Herth, or the goddess of the earth. XLI. The Hermundu- 
rians. XLII. The Nariscans, Marcomanians and Quadians. XLIII. 
The Vlarsignians, and Gothinians, Osians, and Burians. Their 
manners, and the national character of each. The territory of the 



j. c. M. GERMANIA. $23 

Lygians, with their inferior tribes, such as the Arians, the Helve- 
cones, the I\i animians, Elysians, and Naharvalians; the worship of 
Alcis, supposed to be Castor and Pollux. Particular description 
of the Arians. The Gothones, the Rugiaiis and Lemovians, all 
under real government. XLIV. The Suiones bordering- on the 
ocean : their naval strength. Their kings despotic. XLV. The 
sea without undulation : the JEstians, and their plenty of amber on 
the shore. The formation of amber, and its natural causes. The 
Sitones, subject to female government. XLVI. The Peucinians, 
the Venedians and Fennians : their filth and poverty. Accounts 
of the Helusians, the Oxiones, and others too fabulous to be re- 
lated. 
This tract was composed by Tacitus in the 
Year of Rome. Of Christ. Consuls. 

851. 93. Nerva, the 4th time, j 

Trojan, the 2d. 



Germania (a) omnis a Gallia (b) Rhaetisque et Pan- 
noniisRheno et Danubiofluminibus, aSarmatis Dacisque (c) 



a Augustus Caesar divided part of Belgic Gaul into two provinces, 
distinguished by the names of Upper and Lower Germany. Many 
of the new settlers in those parts were originally Germans, and, when 
the whole country was reduced under subjection to the Roman em- 
pire, the people, unwilling to pass for natives of Gaul, still retained 
their original name. Those two provinces called the Upper and 
Lower Germany, being, in fact, part of Gaul, are not comprised in 
the account given by Tacitus. He speaks of ancient Germany, call- 
ed Germania Antiqua, or Barbara ; of Germany on the eastern side 
of the Rhine, Germania Transrhenana ; bounded, on the west by the 
Rhine ; on the south by the Danube ; on the east by the Vistula, or 
Weissel, and the mountains of Sarmatia ; and finally by the Northern 
Ocean, including the Baltic, and the gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. 

b Gaul, according to Caesar, was divided into three parts, namely, 
1 . Belgic Gaul, bounded by the Seine, the Marne, the mountains of 
Vaugc, the Rhine, and the Ocean. 2dly, Celtic Gaul, bounded by 
the Ocean, the Seine, the Marne, the Saone, the Rhone, and the Ga- 
ronne. 3dly, Aquitania, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Ga- 
ronne, and the Pyrenees. 

c Dacia, in a short time after Tacitus wrote this treatise, was re- 
duced by the emperor Trajan to a Roman province. It lay on the 
other side of the Danube, extending northward to the Carpathian 
mountains, comprising part of Upper Hungary, Transylvania, Wala- 
chia, and Moldavia. 

Sarmatia was formerly divided into European and Asiatic. The 
European division is here intended by Tacitus. It had the Vistula, 
or Weissel, and a chain of mountains for its western boundary, and 



224 C. CORN. TACITI. a.u. c. 851 

mutuo metu aut montibus, separatur. Cetera Occanus 
ambit, latos sinus et insularum inmensa spatia compleo 
tens, (c?) nuper €Ognitis quibusdam gentibus ac Regibus. 
quos bellum aperuit. (c) Rhenus, Rhaeticarum Alpium (/) 
inaccesso ac praecipiti vertice ortus, modico flexu in Occi- 
dentern versus, septentrionali Oceano miscetur. Danubius* 
molli et cleraenter edito mentis Abnobae (g) jugo effusus, 
plures populos adit, donee in Ponticum mare sex meatibus 
erumpit : septimum enim os paludibus hauritur. 



extended to the northern parts of Europe, comprising Livonia, Lith- 
uania, Russia, and Crim Tartary. 

The mountains, which in part divided these nations from Germany, 
are now called the Carpathian mountains, running between Poland, 
Hungary, and Transylvania. 

d The Baltic Sea was, probably, thought in the time of Tacitus to 
be the Northern Ocean. The deep gulfs were those of Bothnia and 
Finland. Sweden, Norway, and Finland, were anciently called Scan- 
dinavia, and supposed by the Romans to be a large island. 

e Before the expeditions of Drusus and his son Germanicus, the 
Romans had not pierced far into Germany. Drusus, A. U. C. 744, 
advanced with his fleet as far as the promontory of the Cimbrians, 
who inhabited the country now called Jutland. Tacitus wrote his 
treatise about one hundred and eight years afterwards, and not less 
than eighty years after the war in Germany, under the conduct of 
Germanicus. That commander carried his victorious arms into parts 
of the country unexplored before. It is probable^ that some further 
discoveries were made in the time of Domitian. 

/ The Rhsetian Alps are now called the Mountains of the Grisons ; 
that, in particular, from which the Rhine issues, is called Vogelberg. 
This celebrated river flows in one regular channel, embracing a few 
small islands in its course, till it reaches the island of the Batavians, 
where it divides itself into two branches, one washing the eastern 
side of Germany, and the other forming the boundary of Gaul. For 
a further account of this river, see Annals, ii. s. 6. 

g The mountain Abnoba is called by the Germans Schwartzwald, 
and by the French the Black Forest, la Foret Noire Brotier refers 
to the volumes of Count Marsili, who discovered the fountain-head 
of the Danube and Rhine in 1702. Before that time Doneschingen 
was erroneously called the fountain-head of the Danube. That fa- 
mous river, from its spring as far as Vienna, retained the name of the 
Danube, but according to Pliny, as soon as it reached Illyricum, 
and thence to its mouth, where it discharges itself into the Euxine, or 
Black Sea, it was called the Ister. Brotier adds, that the Danube 
preserves its course through the Euxine into the Mediterranean, dis- 
tinguished all the way by the clearness of the current ; and the ships, 
he says, from the JEgean Sea (now the Archipelago,) as far as the 
Propontic, (the Sea of Marmora,) can with difficulty make head 
against the force of so rapid a stream. 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 225 

II. Ipsos Germanos indigenas (h) crediderim. minime- 
que aliarum gentium adventibus et hospitiis mixtos ; quia 
nee terra olim, sed classibus, advehebantur, (i) qui mu- 
tare sedes quaerebant : et inmensus ultra, utque sic dixe- 
rim, adversus Oceanus raris ab orbe nostro navibus adi- 
tur. (J) (^uis porro, praeter periculum horridi et ignoti 
maris, Asia aut Africa aut Italia relicta, Germaniam pete- 
ret ? (A:) informem terris, asperam coelo, tristem cultu 
adspectuque, nisi si patria sit. Celebrant carminibus (T) 

h The inhabitants of every nation, that had no literary monuments, 
were by the ancients deemed the immediate offspring of the soil. The 
world is now better informed. Asia is considered as the country 
where the numbers of mankind multiplied with rapid increase, and 
thence, overflowing into Scythia, peopled the northern regions of 
Europe. Under which of the sons of Noah that vast migration was 
formed, it is now fruitless to inquire. Antiquarians have amused 
themselves with systems founded on vain opinions, and, having no his- 
torical records, they have wandered in a maze of wild conjecture, 
without contributing to the stock of real knowledge. 

i In this passage a mistake seems to be justly imputed to Tacitus. 
The first migrations could not be made by seam those early ages, 
when the use of shipping was little known. As soon as population in- 
creased in Asia, the redundant multitude went forth in quest of new 
settlements, and poured into Scythia, Sarmatia, Hungary, and Poland, 
and thence into Germany. When navigation began to be in some 
degree understood, colonies were transplanted by sea. It was by sea 
that Cecrops conveyed his people from Egypt into Greece, and it was 
in the same manner that the Phoenicians transported their colonies to 
the coast of Africa. But migrations must have been made before 
those events, and the northern parts of Europe were peopled long 
before. 

j In the time of Tacitus, a voyage from Italy to the Northern Ocean 
would have been an enterprise too wild and daring. Drusus, the 
father of Germanicus, was the first Roman commander who ventured 
to explore those seas. 

k I his is by no means a satisfactory reason for the position advanced 
by Tacitus, namely, that the Germans were the indigenous offspring 
of the soil. In those remote ages, when the numbers of one nation 
overflowed into another, the object was not the most delightful coiwi- 
try, but the safest habitation. Asia, Italy, and some parts of Africa, 
afford delightful spots ; but to men who could not find a settlement in 
those regions, even Germany, which appears so horrid to Tacitus, 
was not without its conveniences. The people escaped from orien- 
tal despotism , and lived in freedom . A freehold, says Addison, though 
but in ice or snow, will make the owner pleased with the possession, 
and stout in the defence of it. 

/ Songs and rude poetry have been in all savage countries the me- 
morials of public transactions. Kings and heroes were the poets and 
fastorians of the Scythian, the Celtic, and the northern nations. Saxo 

21 



226 C. CORN. TAC1TL a. u. c. 051 

antiquis (quod unum apud illos memorise et annaliurn genus 
est) ' Tuistonem Deum, (m) terra editum, et filiurn Man- 
4 num, originem gentis conditoresque. Manno tris filios*' 
adsignant, k e quorum nominibus proximi Oceano Ingaevo- 
4 nes, medii Hermiones, ceteri lstaevones vocentur. (n)' 
Quidam auteni, licentia vetustatis, ' plures Deo ortos plu- 
' resque gentis adpellationes, Marsos, Gambrivios, Suevos* 
; Vandalios (o)' adfirmant : ' eaque vera et antiqua nojnina. 
Ceterum Germanise vocabulum recens et nuper additum ; 
4 quoniam, qui primi Rhenum transgressi Gallos expule- 
4 rint, ac, nunc Tungri, tunc Germani vocati sint : ita na- 
* tionis nornen in nomen gentis evaluisse paullatim, ut om- 

Grammaticus and other writers inform us, that they drew their mate- 
rials from R,unic Songs, or Icelandic poetry. The Gauls had their 
Druids, the priests and philosophers of the nation, who preserved 
their doctrine by oral tradition, and verses committed to memory on- 
ly. The Germans had their Bards, who in their songs recorded all 
public transactions, and sung the praises of their warriors and illus- 
trious men. At all feasts and public assemblies the bards were the 
panegyrists of exalted merit. The same was the case in Britain, 
Wales, and Ireland. The songs of the bards were the prelude to bat- 
tle ; they inspired the chiefs with enthusiastic ardour. When Ed- 
ward I. formed the plan of reducing Wales to subjection, he thought 
it necessary to destroy all the bards. The Scandinavians had their 
poets, or Scalds, whose business it was to compose odes or songs, in 
which they celebrated the warlike achievements of their ancestors. 
The praises which those poets gave to valour, the enthusiasm which 
animated their verses, and the care which the people took to learn 
them from their infancy, all conspired to rouse the martial spirit of 
their armies. MalkVs Northern Antiquities, vol. i. p. 223. 

m Various opinions have been advanced by antiquarians concerning 
the name of Tuisto. Some assert that it means the creator of the 
world ; and that Mannus, which is man with a Latin termination, 
relates to Adam. Others will have it, that Tuisto is the same as Teu^ 
tates, a Scythian or Celtic king ; and much learning has been laid 
out upon the subject. It is sufficient that he was the most ancient dei- 
ty of the Germans and Scandinavians, long before the worship of Odin 
was established. 

n We have here, in three grand divisions, a general geographical 
description of Germany. The commentators inform us that they have 
found compound words in the German language, signifying first, the 
inhabitants of the maritime parts ; 2dly, inhabitants of the midland 
country ; 3dly, inhabitants of the east ; and those words correspond 
with the three appellations, which the Romans softened into their own 
idiom. 

o The Vandals are the same as the Vindili mentioned by Pliny ; a 
brave and warlike race, who afterwards overran Gaul, Spain, and 
Italy, and were finally destroyed in Africa. 



j. c, 98. GERMAN1A. 227 

i nes primum a rictore ob metum, mox a seipsis invenlb 
4 nomine,' Germani 4 vocarentur.' (p) 

III. * Fuisse apud eos et Herculem' memorant, primurn- 
que omnium virorum fortium ituri in proelia canunt. Sunt 
illis hsec quoque carmina, quorum relatu, quern 6 bardi- 
1 turn' (9) vocant, accendunt animos, futuraeque pugnae for- 
tunam ipso cantu augurantur : terrent enim trepidantve, 
prout sonuit acies. Nee tam vocis Ule, quam virtutis, 
concentus videntur. Adfectatur praecipue asperitas soni et 
fractum murmur, objectis ad os scutis, quo plenior et gra- 
vior vox repercussu intumescat. Ceterum et ' Ulixem,' 
quidam opinantur, * longo iilo et fabuloso errore in hunc 
* Oceanum delatum, adisse Germanise terras, Asciburgium- 
4 que, (r) quod in ripa Rheni situm hodieqne incolitur, ab 



p Lipsius is of opinion that this passage will ever be the torment of 
the commentators. But the difficulty does not seem to be insurmoun- 
table. Tacitus says, that the first emigrants from the other side of 
the Rhine who entered Gaul, and dispossessed the natives, were in 
his time called Tungrians ; but when they undertook their expedition^ 
to strike their enemies with terror, ob metum, they called themselves 
Germans. The word, of course, implied something formidable, and, 
by averting to the etymology, it receives the following construction. 
Gehr, or Wehr, signifies war. From that root the French have de- 
rived their word guerre.. Man, in the German tongue, implied the 
same as it does now in that country and in England." Hence we find, 
that the first invaders, ob metum, to spread a general alarm, called 
themselves Germans, or warlike men. 

q The commentators are much at variance about the reading of 
the original word to express the recitation of the German poets. 
Some of them contend for barritus, instead of barditus; for barrire, 
they say, signifies the cry or roar of an elephant. Horace uses the 
word barrus, for an elephant. Mulier mgris dignissima barris ; 
Epod. 12. But Lipsius observes, that elephants were not known in 
Germany. This dispute about a word, seems to be, as is usually the 
case, of little or no importance, since it is evident that the poets of 
Germany and Britain were called Bards, and therefore barditus is, 
probably, the true reading. 

The strains of verse which the bards poured forth in their fits of 
enthusiasm, inflamed the German and the British warriors with heroic 
fortitude. Perhaps nothing contributed more to make those nations 
stand at bay for such a length of time with the whole power of the 
Romans. The soldier said to the bard, " Come, and see me fighting 
" for my country ; see me bleed, if the fate of war will have it so ; and 
sl if I die, be sure to record my memory." This was the ambition of 
the northern nations. *" 

r The love of fabulous history, which was the passion of ancient 
times, produced a new Hercules in every country, and made Ulysses 



228 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851, 

1 illo constitutum nominatumque. Aram quin etiam Ulixi 

* consecratam, adjecto Laertae patris nomine, eodem loco 
1 olim repertam, monumentaque et tumulos quosdam, Grae- 

* cis litteris inscriptos* (s) in confinio Germaniae Rhaetiae- 
1 qua adbuc exstare :' quae neque coufirmare argumentis. 
neque refellere in animo est : ex ingenio suo quisque de- 
mat, vel addat fidem. 

IV. Ipse eornm opinionibus accedo, qui ' Germaniae po- 
- puios nullis aliis aliarum natiouum connabiis infectos, pro- 

* priam et sinceram et tantum sui similem gentem exstitte- 
6 se,' arbitrantur : unde habitns quoque corporum, quam- 
quam m tanto hominum nurnero, idem omnibus : (t) truces 
et caBrulei oculi, rutilae comae, magna corpora et tantum ad 
inpetum valida : laboris atque operum non eadem patien- 
tia : minimeque sitim aestumque tolerare, frigora atque ine- 
diam coelo solove adsueverunt 

V. Terra, etsi aliquanto specie differt, in universum 
tamen aut silvis horrida, aut paludibus foeda : humidior, 
qua Gallias ; ventosior, qua Noricum ac Pannoniam adspi- 
cit : satis ferax : frugiferarum arborum inpatiens : (#) 



wander in every sea. Tacitus mentions it as a romantic tale, but 
Strabo seems willing to countenance the fiction, and, for that pur- 
pose, gravely tells us, that Ulysses founded a city, called Odyssey, in 
Spain. 

s Inscriptions on stone, marble, or brass, though cut in Greek char- 
acters, are a bad support of the systems advanced by theoretical wri- 
ters. Tacitus has shown, Annals, xi. s. 14, that the use of alphabeti- 
cal letters passed from the Phoenicians into Greece, and from Greece 
into Italy and Gaul, particularly to Marseilles. Caesar relates, b. i. 
s. 21, that a roll was found in the Helvetian camp, written in Greek 
characters, and containing a list of all (including old men, women, 
and children,) who had set out in the expedition against the Roman 
army. In book vi. s. 13, he expressly says, that the Druids did not 
commit their statutes to writing, but in all other matters made use of 
Greek characters. Those characters passed from Gaul into Germa- 
ny, where Count ?*f arsili and others have found several monuments 
with Greek inscriptions. 

/ This wonderful similitude throughout the whole race has been 
remarked by various authors. Juvenal mentions their yellow hair, 
their blue eyes, and other circumstances that made the whole nation 
appear to be one family. 

u The Germans attended to nothing but the production of corn. 
Their country, like Canada, was covered over with immense tracts 
of forest, and, till the ground was cleared, and the cold, by conse- 
quence, abated of its rigour, cultivation could not be carried on with. 
Any kintl of advantage. 



j. c. 9«, GERMANIA. 229 

pecorum foecunda, sed plerumque inprocera . ne armentk 
quidem suus honor, aut gloria frontis : numero gaudent 
eaeque solae et gratissimae opes sunt. Argentum et aurum 
propitii an irati Dii negaverint, dubito. Nee tamen ad- 
iirmaverim, nullam Germanise venam argentum aurumve 
gignere : (y) quis enim scrutatus est ? possessione et usu 
haud perinde adnciuntur. Est videre apud illos argentea 
vasa, legatis et Principibus eorum muneri data, non in alia 
vilitate, quam quae humo finguntur : quamqaam proximi, 
ob usum commerciorum, aurum et argentum in pretio ha- 
bent, formasque quasdam nostrae pecuniae agnoscunt atque 
eligunt : interiores simplicius et antiquius permutatione 
mercium utuntur. Pecuniam probant yeterem et diu no- 
tarn, serratos, bigatosque. (itf) Argentum quoque magi* 
quam aurum sequuntur, (x) nulla adfectione animi, sed 
quia numerus argenteorum facilior usui est promiscua ac 
vilia mercantibus. 

VI. Ne ferrum quidem superest, (?/) sicut ex genere 

v Notwithstanding what is here said, we find, Annals, xi. s. 20, that 
Curtius Rufus opened a silver mine in the territory of the Mattiaca, 
now subject to the landgrave of Hesse ; but it was soon exhausted. 

w The Romans began to coin silver A. U. C. 485. Their gold coin 
began in the year 587. On all their money, Victory was seen in a 
triumphal car, driving sometimes two horses, and sometimes foun 
Hence their pieces were called bigati or quadrigaii. See Pliny, book 
xxxiii. s. 3. The coin was indented round the edges like a saw, ser- 
ra. and, for that reason, called serrali. Brotier says, he has seen seve- 
ral pieces of this old coin in the college-library of Lewis the Four- 
teenth. „Pliny tells us, that the Romans soon began to debase their 
coin, and to mix an alloy of brass with their silver. The emperors 
still debased it more. The Germans in all their money-dealings sus- 
pected fraud, and therefore preferred the coin of the republic, such as 
had a car with two or four horses, and the edge indented. The anti- 
quarians have employed much learning on this subject ; but the above 
short account (suggested by BrGtier and La Bletterie) seems to be 
the true solution of the difficulty. 

x It is remarkable that the Romans always exacted from the con- 
quered nations a tribute of silver. Pliny the elder wonders at the 
fact, and adds that, when Hannibal was overthrown, and Carthage 
reduced to subjection, the Romans demanded an annual tribute of sil- 
ver for the term of fifty years ; but they made no mention of gold. See 
Pliny, book xxxiii. 9. 13 and 15. 

y Abundance of iron was to be found in the bowels of the earth ; 
but to extract it, to soften it by fire, and render it pliant and mallea- 
ble, required more skill and patience than consisted with the rough 
genius of a savage race. Accordingly, swords and javelins were not 
much in use. A spear tipt with iron, in their language, called, as 

21 * 



SO C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 851. 

lelorum conligitur. Rari gladiis, aut majoribus lanceis 
utuntur : hastas, vel ipsorum vocabulo ' frameas, 5 gerunt, 
angusto et brevi ferro, sed ita acri, et ad usum habili, ut 
eodem tela, prout ratio poscit, vel cominus vel eminrjs 
pugnent : et eques quidem scuto frameaque contentus 
est : pedites et missilia spargunt, plura singuli, atque in 
mmensum vibrant, nuili aut sagulo leves : (z) nulla cul- 
tus jactatio : scuta tantum lectissimis coloribus distinguunt : 
paucis loricae : vix uni alterive cassis, aut galea. Equi 
non forma, non velocitate conspicui : sed nee variare 
gyros, in morern nostrum, docentur. (a) In rectum, aut 
uno flexu dextros agunt, ita conjuncto orbe, ut nemo pos- 
terior sit. In universum aestimanti y plus penes peditem 
roboris : eoque mixti proeliantur, (fr) apta et congruente 



Brotier informs Us, fritm^ or priem, was their weapon In almost all 
the battles recorded by Tacitus. From the word/ram, the Roman 
writer easily made the term framea, more consonant to the idiom of 
the Latin language. It appears in the Annals, book ii. s. 14, that 
those instruments were of an enormous size, and unwieldy in close 
engagement. The number was not sufficient to arm more than the 
front line of their army. The fest carried short darts or clubs har- 
dened by fire. In general, pointed stones were prefixed to their wea- 
pons, and many of these, Brotier says, have been discovered m Ger- 
man sepulchres. 

s The only covering of a German was a short mantle. Their sol- 
diers, for the most part, were naked. All, however, were curious 
in the embellishment of their shields, which we find, Annals, ii. s. 14, 
were not made of iron, but of osier twigs interwoven, or of thin 
boards decorated with gaudy colours. These shields were the de- 
light of the German soldiers. They were, at first, the ensigns of va- 
lour, and afterwards of nobility. The warlike chief made it his stu- 
dy to adorn his shield with variegated colours and the figures of ani- 
mals, to distinguish his own martial prowess ; and what in the begin- 
ning was merely personal, became in time hereditary. Hence what 
we now call coats of arms peculiar to the descendants of particular 
families ; and hence the origin of heraldry. The shield of a Germnn 
was his only protection in the heat of an engagement. Breast-plates 
were worn by a few only. The head-piece was of two sorts ; one 
made of metal, to which the Romans gave the name of cassis ; the 
second of leather, called galea. 

a The Roman art of managing the war-horse is beautifully de- 
scribed by Virgil, 3 Georg. v. 182. The reader who desires to know 
the skill with which the Lib-mans vaulted on their horses and leaped 
off again, will find it at large in Vegetius,lib. i. cap. 18. 

b The German manner of intermixing the foot soldiers with the 
cavalry is described by Julius Caesar. Ariovistus, he says, had about 
six thousand horsemen, who chose a like number out of the foot, eadh 



j. c. 98* GERMANIA. 231 

ad equestrem pugaam velocitate peditum, quos ex omni 
juventute delectos, ante aciem locant. Definitur et mime- 
rus : ■ centeni' (c) ex singulis pagis sunt : idque ipsum 
incer suos vocantur : et quod primo numerus iuit, jam no- 
men et honor est. Acies per cuneos (d) componitur. 
Cedere loco, dummodo rursus instes, consilii quam formi- 
dinis arbitrantur. Corpora suorum etiam id dubiis praeliis 
referunt (e) Scutum reliquisse, praecipuum flagitium i 
nee aut sacris adesse, aut concilium inire, ignominioso fas :' 
multique superstites bellorum mfamiara laqueo finierunt. 
VII. lieges ex nobilitate ; Duces ex virtute sumunt. (/) 

his man, all remarkable for strength and agility. These accompanied 
the cavalry in battle, and served as a rear -guard. If the action be- 
came dangerous, they advanced to the relief of the troops. If any 
horseman was wounded, and fell to the ground, they gathered round 
to defend him. If speed was required, either for hasty pursuit or 
sudden retreat, they were so nimble and alert by continual exercise, 
that, laying hold of the manes of the horses, they could keep pace with 
their swiftest motion. Caesar de BelL Gall. lib. i. s. 48. 

c Germany was divided into states or communities, each state into 
cantons, and each canton into hundreds, or a hundred families. So 
the Suevians were divided, according to Caesar, book iv. s. 1. The 
Swiss to this day are divided into cantons. 

d The word wedge, importing a body of men drawn up in that 
form, is a known military term. The ranks are wide in the rear, but 
lessen by degrees, and sharpen to a point in front, the better to break 
through the lines of the enemy. The practice was universally in use 
among the Germans, and, accordingly, in the History of Tacitus, b. 
iv. s. 16, we find Chilis drawing up the Frisians, the Caninefates, 
and his own countrymen, the Batavians, in three different wedges. 
Whoever has a mind to read more on this subject, will find a disserta- 
tion in the Memoirs of the Academy of Belles Lettres, 4to edit. vol. xx¥, 
p. 440. 

e To bring off his slaughtered comrades, in order to bury their bo- 
dies, was a point of honour with the German warrior; and to leave 
his shield on the field of battle was a most flagitious crime. It con- 
tinued to be so several years after the time Tacitus speaks of, since 
we find that a heavy fine was imposed by the Salic law on him who 
falsely accused another of that heinous offence. 

f The text in this place seems perfectly clear, though various wri- 
ters, fond of a particular hypothesis, have endeavoured to perplex it. 
Some of those ingenious authors contend, that the kings in Germany 
were hereditary, and the general officers elective. But Tacitus says, 
sumunt, they take or choose, and he applies the word to kings as well 
a9 commanders in chief. Hence it may be fairly inferred, that in the 
election of kings they had regard to the nobility of an ancient race ; 
but still they chose them. They chose, perhaps, out of certain fami- 
lies and gave the preference to the issue of the deceased king: but it 
does not appear that they were bound by any law of inheritance. 



232 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u.c. 85i 

Nee Regibus infinita aut libex^a potestas : et Duces exem- 
plo potius, quara imperio : si prompti, si conspicui, si an- 
te aciem agant, admiratione praesunt. Ceterum, neque 
ariimadvertere, neque vincir£, ne verberare quidem, nisi 
Sacerdotibus permissum : (g) non quasi in poenam, nee 
Ducis jussu, sed velut Deo imperante^ quern adesse bellan- 
tibus credunt : effigiesque et signa quaedam, detracta lu- 
cis ? (h) in proelium ferunt. Quodque praecipuum fortitu- 
dinis incitamentum est, non casus, nee fortuita congloba- 
tio turniam aut cuneum fecit, sed familiae et propinquitates, 
et in proximo pignora, unde ferainarum ulutatus audiri, 
unde vagitus infantium : hi cuique sanctissimi testes, hi 
maximi laudatores. (i) Ad matres, ad conjuges vulnera 
ferunt : nee illae nurnerare, aut exigere plagas, pavent ; 
cibosque et hortamina pugnantibus gestant. 

VIII. Memoriae proditur, quasdam acies, mclinatas jam 
et labantes, a feminis restitutas, constantia precum et ob- 
jectu pectorum, (j) et monstrata cominus captivitate, 

g The commander in chief had the power of adjudging, but the 
punishment was inflicted bf the priests, who, according to Caesar, 
book vi. s. 20, were not of the order of the Druids. It followed, by 
consequence, that the general met with less ill-will, and the execution 
was beheld with reverential awe. La Bletterie observes, that in 
modern times, the stroke of justice, committed always to the base and 
profligate, is well-nigh rendered odious. The ancient Germans seem 
to have been of opinion, that the life of man, whenever taken away, 
should be a sacrifice to the Deity. It is not probable that the fero- 
city of the people would tamely submit to the severity of human in- 
stitutions 

h The figures of savage animals were deemed religious symbols ; 
see Tacitus, Hut. b. iv. s. 12. It was also a custom to deposit the 
standards taken from the enemy in their sacred groves, Annals^ b. i. 
s. 59. These they carried with them to their wars. 

i The Germans felt themselves inflamed with enthusiastic ardour, 
when their wives and children surveyed the field of battle. Many 
instances of this occur in Tacitus. See History, b. iv. s. 18. In the 
engagement between Caesar and Ariovistus, the Germans encom- 
passed their whole army with a line of carriages, in order to take 
away all hopes of safety by flight ; and their women, mounted upon 
those carriages, weeping and tearing their hair, conjured the soldiers, 
as they advanced to battle, not to suffer them to become slaves to the 
Romans. Caesar, b. i. s. 51. 

/ We have in Florus a livety description of the Undaunted courage 
with which the German women opposed the enemy in the day of 
battle. After stating the victory obtained by Marius over the Cim- 
bri, the historian says, that the conflict was not less fierce and obstinate 
with the wives of the vanquished. In their carts and wagons they* 



j. c. 98: GERMAN' 233 

quim longe inpatientius ferninarum su>rum nomine timent: 
adeo, ut eflieacius obiigeruur anjmi civi{atuui, quibus inter 
©bsides puellae quv.que nol3iles imperaLjur Incesse quin 
etiam sanctum aiiquid et proviaun/ puunt : (/*) nee aut 
consilia earuci adsperaantur, aut respensa negligunt. 
Vidimus, sub divo Vespasiano, Veledam, (/) diu apud pie- 



formed a line of battle, and from their elevated situation, as from so 
many turrets, annoyed the Etonians with their poles and lances. 
Their death was as glorious as tneir martial spirit. Finding that all 
was lost, they sent a deputation to .Alarius, desiring that they might 
be at liberty to enrol themselves in a religious order. Their request, 
in its nature impracticable , being refused, they strangled their chil- 
dren, and either destroyed themselves in one scene of mutual slaugh- 
ter, or, with the sashes that bound up their hair, hung suspended by 
the neck on the boughs of treee:, or the top of their waggons. Florus, 
book iii. ch. 3. See also Valerius Maximus, book vi ch. 1. That 
the women were esteemed by the German nations as their dearest 
pledges, is confirmed by Suetonius, who relates, that Augustus Caesar 
de nanded from the conquer ?d tribes a new sort of hostages, namely, 
the-r women; because he found, by experience, that they did not 
much regard their male hostages. Sueton. Life of Augustus, s. 21. 

k Plutarch, in his Treatise on the virtues of the Female Sex, re- 
lates, that a dispute arose among the tribes of Celtic emigrants, be- 
fore they passed over the Alps, so fierce and violent, that nothing but 
the decision of the sword could end the quarrel. I he Celtic women 
on that occasion, rushed between the two armies, and determined the 
question with such good sense, that the Celtic nations ever after made 
it their practice to call women to their consultations about peace and 
war. When Julius Caesar inquired of the prisoners why Ariovistus 
declined an engagement, he found that it was the custom among the 
Germans for the women to decide by lots and divinations, whether it 
was proper to hazard a battle, and that they had declared against 
coming to an action before the new moon. Caesar, book i. s. 50. 
Strabo relates, that among the Cimbrian women,, who followed their 
husbands in the invasion of Italy, there were several who had the gift 
of prophecy, and marched barefoot in the midst of the lines, distin- 
guished by their gray hairs, and milk-white linen robes. Strabo, 
book vii. Tacitus, in his History, observes, that most of the German 
women were considered as prophetesses, and, in particular, that Vele- 
da was worshipped as a goddess. Hist, book iv. s. 61 and 65. La 
Bletterie observes, that, till the final extinction of paganism, the 
same superstition prevailed in Gaul, and that a number of matrons, or 
druidical virgins, foretold, when the emperor Alexander was on the 
point of setting out on his expedition against Germany, that he would 
never return. 

/ Veleda was a prophetess of the Brueterian nation. She was the 
oracle of Civilis the Batavian, in his war with the Romans. Cerealis, 
when he had gained a decisive victory over that warlike chief, and 
had nothing so much at heart as a general peace, knew the importance 



234 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 851. 

rosque Numinis loco habitam. Sed et olim Auriniam et 
compluris alias venerati sunt, non adulatione, nee tamquam 
facerent Deas. 

IX. Deorum maxime Mercurium colunt, (m) cui certis 

of Veleda, and her influence on the German mind. We see him, for 
that reason, in the History of Tacitus, b. v. s. 24, endeavouring to 
draw her over to his interest. And yet with all hsr boasted know- 
ledge she was blind to her own fate. We learn from Statius, that she 
was made a captive by Rutulius Gallicus, and obliged to humble her- 
self before the emperor Vespasian. Hence Tacitus says, Vidimus 
Veledam, we saw Veleda, 

m This passage has afforded a large field of discussion, in which 
various writers have expatiated, as fancy, or the love of an hypothe- 
sis, happened to dictate. Caesar tells us, that the Germans have no 
druids to preside in religious affairs ; nor do they trouble themselves 
about sacrifices. They acknowledge no gods but. those that are ob- 
jects of sight, and by whose power they are apparently benefited ; 
the sun, the moon, fire. Of other gods they knew nothing, not even 
by report. De Bell. Gall b vi s. 20. On the other hand, the same 
author informs us, that the Gauls worshipped Mercury as the inven- 
tor of all useful arts, and the tutelary patron of commerce ; and also 
Apollo, Mars, Jupiter, and Minerva. Book vi. s, 16. But, if it be 
true, according to the same eminent writer, that the Gauls in ancient 
times exceeded the Germans in bravery, and often passed over the 
Rhine to wage war in that country, it cannot be supposed that the 
Germans never heard of other gods. Mars, we find, was worshipped 
by the Gauls ; but as he was a Scythian god, as Virgil has it, Gradi- 
vumque palrem, Gtttcis qui, prcesidet arvts, it is highly improbable, 
that a people who were of Scythian origin, should not have heard of 
the God of War. 

The idea of one Goo!, the governing mind of the universe, was un- 
known to the Pagan world. The most savage nations had a notion 
of an invisible power ; but being left to their own uninstructed fancy, 
polytheism was the consequence. They analyzed the Deity, decom- 
pounded his essence, personified his attributes, and made new gods for 
every thing that they wished or feared. All had a sense of a superior 
Being; but not being able to ascribe omnipotence to one God, they 
multiplied the number, and distributed the administration of the uni- 
verse among various deities, assigning to each his separate pro- 
vince, his distinct attributes, and peculiar character. The theology 
of Greece and Rome sprung out of the wants, the fears, and passions 
of a savage race, and, in process of time, those nations adorned and 
polished the rude inventions of their ancestors. Their genius gave 
the graces of poetry to every fiction, and their mythology was render- 
ed elegant. Other nations, who made no advances in science, formed 
their system of polytheism in the same manner, and, as was natural, 
deified the same attributes. And thus, as Hume observes in his His- 
tory °f Natural Religion* ki The Hreek and Roman travellers and 
conquerors, without much difficulty, found their own deities every 
where, and said, This is* Mercury, that Venus ; this is Mars, thai 



j. c. 98. GERMAN1A. 235 

diebus humanis (71) quoque hostiis litare fas habent. Her- 
culern ac Martein concessis animalibus placant : pars Sue- 
vorum et Isidi sacrificat. Unde caussa et origo peregrine 
sacro, parum comperi, nisi quod signum ipsum, in modum 
liburnae figuration, docet, advectam religionem. Ceterum. 
nee eohibere parietibus Deos, neque in uliam hurnani oris 
speciem adsimulare, ex magnitudine ccelestium arbitran- 
tur : (o) lucos ac nemora consecrant. (p) Deorumque 

Neptune ; by whatever title the strange gods might be denominated. 
The goddess Hertha, of our Saxon ancestors, seems to be n© other, 
according to Tacitus, than the Mater Tellus of the Romans." Ac- 
cording to this doctrine, we see in the tract on the German Manners, 
s. 43, that under the name of Aids, Tacitus found that the people 
worshipped Castor and Pollux. In this sense, the Roman historians 
are to be understood, when they tell us, that savage nations worship- 
ped Mars, and Venus, and Minerva. Under barbarous appellations 
they worshipped invisible powers, to whom they gave distinct func- 
tions, as the Romans did in their own religious system. It is there- 
fore to be wished that Caesar had collected the names ascribed by the 
Germans to their gods. In that case the seeming variance between 
him and Tacitus would, most probably, vanish. But Caesar was en- 
gaged in an important war with Ariovistus, and he did not pierce far 
into Germany. 

n Human victims were offered to Mercury (or Hesus) as the 
chief of the German gods, and, according to the text, certain animals 
were sacrificed to Mars and Hercules. The Germans were of Scy- 
thian origin, and of course, retained much of the manners of their an- 
cestors. See Herodotus, book iv. The Celtic nations offered human 
victims to their gods, and, accordingly, Caesar tells us, that the same 
horrible superstition prevailed among the Gauls. In threatening dis- 
tempers or imminent dangers, they made no scruple to sacrifice human 
victims, and made use of the ministry of their druids for that purpose. 
They put the victims alive into a colossus of osier twigs, a"nd all within 
expired in the flames. Convicts for theft, robbery, or other crimes, 
were thought most acceptable to the gods, and, when real criminals 
were not to be found, the innocent were made to suffer. Caesar, book 
vi. s. 15. 

o It may be assumed as a fact, that the Germans, at the time when 
Tacitus wrote his Treatise, had no representation of their gods in the 
human shape. Statuaries and artists did not fix their residence in 
those regions. It is certain, however, that in process of time, images 
and statues abounded in Germany. 

p G roves devoted to superstition were frequent in G ermany and in 
Gaul. Mention is made, Annals, ii. s. 12, of a wood sacred to Hercu- 
les. The forest of Barduhenna occurs. Annals, iv. s. 73. and in the 
History, iv. s. 14, Tacitus describes a sacred grove. 

Lu can's description of a sacred grove near Marseilles, in the third 
book of the Pharsalia, is well known to the classic scholar. The rites 
of a barbarous worship, and the impression made on the mind by the 



236 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u.c>851 

nominibus adpellant secretum illud, quod sola reverentia 
vident. Auspicia, sortesque, (q) ut qui maxime, obser- 
vant. 

X. Sortium consuetudo simplex : virgam, frugifersB 
arbori decisam, in surculos amputant, eosque : notis qui- 
busdam discretos, super candidam vestem temere ac for- 
tuito spargunt : mox, si publice consuletur, Sacerdos ci- 
vitatis, sin privatim, ipse paterfamilias, (r) precatus Deos, 
coelumque suspiciens, ter singulos tollit, sublatos, secun- 
dum impressam ante notam, interpretatur. Si prohibue- 
runt, nulla de eadem re in eundem diem consultatio ; sin 
permissum, auspiciorum adhuc fides exigitur. Et illud 
quidem etiam hie notum, avium voces volatusque interro- 
gare : proprium gentis, equorum (s) quoque praesagia ac 
monitus experiri : publice aluntur iisdem nemoribus ac 
lucis candidi, et nullo mortali opere contacti : quos pressos 
sacro curru Sacerdos, ac Rex, vel Princeps civitatis, comi- 
tantur, hinnitusque ac fremitus observant. Nee ulli auspi- 
cio major fides, non solum apud plebem, sed apud proce- 

gloom of a thick forest, are there displayed with a masterly hand ; 
but, perhaps, Seneca has given the philosophical and true reason. He 
says, if you enter a dark wood, where high embowering trees exclude 
the light of the sun, the prodigious growth and lofty majesty of the 
wood, the solitude of the place, and the deep impenetrable gloom, 
all conspire to impress an awful stillness, and to nil the mind with ideas 
of the invisible power of a superior Being. Seneca, epist. 41. ^^»> 

q The Scythians, according to Herodotus, bookiv. had thet^JpIRi*. 
ing twigs. The manner in which they were used, is explained by 
Saxo Grammaticus, Hist, of Denmark, book xiv. who says, that the 
Rugians, a people bordering on the Baltic Sea, threw into their bo- 
soms three pieces of wood, partly white, and partly black ; the for- 
mer denoting success, and the letter adverse fortune. 

r Caesar says, b. i. s. 50. that, among the Gauls, the matrons of the 
family presided to decide by lots and divination. The case, undoubt* 
edly, was the same in Germany. 

s Instances of this superstition are recorded among the Persians. 
Darius was elected king by the neighing of a horse. Herodotus, b. 
iii. The same author, b. i. mentions a number of white horses con- 
sidered as sacred by Cyrus and his army. Justin relates the election 
of Darius in the following manner. The competitors for the regal 
diadem agreed, that, on a stated day, the horses of the several candi- 
dates should be drawn out before the palace, and he. whose horce was 
first heard neighing, should be chosen king. The reason of this cere*- 
mony was the persuasion of the Persians, who believed the sun to be 
the only god, and that alf horses were consecrated to him. Justin, b.i. 
s. 10. In the isle of Rugen a priest took auspices from a white horse*, 
a"s appears in Saxo Grammaticus, Danish History, b. xiv. 



j, c. 98. GERMANIA. 237 

res, apud Sacerdotes. Se eniin ministros Deorum, illos 
conscios putant. Est et alia observatio auspiciorum, qua 
gravium bellorum eventus explorant. Ejus gentis, cum 
qua bellum est, captivum, quoquo modo interceptum, cum 
electo popularium suorura, patriis quemque armis, com- 
mittunt : (t) victoria hujus vel illius pro praejuclicio ac- 
cipitur. 

XI De minoribus rebus Principes consultant; de ma- 
joribus omnes : (w) ita tamen, ut ea quoque, quorum penes 
plebem arbitrium est, apud Principes pertractentur. Coe- 
unt, nisi quid fortuitum et subitum incident, certis diebus, 
cum aut inchoatur luna, aut impletur, (v) nam agendis re- 
bus hoc auspicatissimum initium credunt. Nee dierum 
numerum, ut nos. sed noctium computanx. Sic constituunt, 
sic condicunt : nox ducere diem videtur. Illud ex liber- 
tate vitium, quod non sinml, nee ut jussi conveniunt, sed et 
alter et tertius dies cunctatione coeuntium absumitur. Ut 



t Montesquieu observes, that this was the origin of duelling, and 
also of the heroic madness of knight errantry. It was considered by 
the superstition of the times as an appeal to heaven, hi a fierce and 
warlike nation, like the Germans, whole families waged war on one 
another for every species of injury. To modify so savage a custom, 
the combat was fought under the eye of the magistrate, and, in that 
manner, private as well as public affairs were determined. The proof 
by battle was established, and with more eagerness, as it excluded 
perjury. Judicial combat was the mode of trial that afterwards pre- 
vailed all over Europe. Witnesses and compurgators were obliged 
to support their evidence by the decision of the sword. Ecclesiastics, 
women, minors, the aged and infirm, could not be expected to enter 
the lists, and were therefore obliged to produce their champions. The 
custom in England was called uager of battle. 

u Montesquieu is of opinion, that in this Treatise on the Manners 
of the Germans, an attentive reader may trace the origin of the Bri- 
tish constitution. That beautiful system, he says, was found in the 
forests of Germany. Spirt of Laws, b. xi. ch. 6. 

v The power and influence of the moon on all human affairs, has 
been a notioa adopted by the credulity and superstition of every age 
and nation. Arioviatus, according to Julius Caesar, book i. s. 50, was 
forbid to hazard a battle before the new moon. The commentator on 
the passage in Csesar adds, that by a law of Lycurgus, the Spartan 
army was not to take the field before the full moon ; and Vespasian, 
to take advantage of religious prejudices, attacked the * ews on the 
Sabbath day. See in the AnnaU, b. i. s. 28, a panic in the army, oc- 
casioned by an eclipse of the moon. The elder Pliny, b. ii. s. 99, sets 
forth the extravagant powers attributed to the same planet. In this 
enlightened age, some traces of the same superstition still remain, 

22 



238 C. CORN. TACITI. A . u. c. 65i~ 

turbae placuit, considunt armati. (w) Silentium per Sacer- 
dotes, quibus turn et coercendi jus est, miperatur. Mox 
Rex, vel Princeps, prout aetas cuique, prout nobiiitas, 
prout decus beliorum, prout facundia est, audiuntur. auc- 
toritate suadendi magis, quam jubencii potestate. (%) Si 
displicuit sententia, fremitu acispernantur , sin placuit, fra- 
meas concutiunt. Honoratissimum adsensus genus est, 
arm is laudare. 

Xil. Licet apud concilium adcusare quoque et discrimen 
capitis intendere. Distinctio poenarum ex delicto : pro- 
ditores et transfugas arboribus suspendunt : ignavos et in- 
belles (j/) et corpore infames, cceno ac palude, injecta in- 
super crate, mergunt. Diversitas supplicii illuc respicit, 
tamquam scelera ostendi oporteat, durn puniuntur, flagitia 



w In the excellent translation of Monsieur Mallet's Northern An- 
tiquiiitu, we see the same custom observed by the Danes. They 
still show the places where they chose their kings, their generals, and 
also deliberated on the most important affairs. There are remaining 
three monuments of this custom, the one near Lunden, in Scania, the 
other at Leyra, or Lethra, in Zealand, and the third near Viburg, in 
Jutland. " These monuments, whose rude bulk has preserved them 
from the ravages of time, are vast unhewn stones, twelve in number, 
set upright and placed in the form of a circle. In the middle is a 
stone much larger than the rest, on which they made a seat for their 
king. The other stones served as a barrier to keep off the populace. 
The principal chiefs mounted on those stones, and with a loud voice 
delivered their opinions ; then the soldiers, who stood in crowds 
about them, signified their approbation or assent by clashing their 
shields together in a kind of cadence, or by raising certain shouts,?' 
Stonehenge is said to be a monument of the same custom. See 
Camden's Britannia, by Gibson, p. 95. 

x From this it is evident that all the States of Germany were not 
governed by kings. The chief of the community implies a republi- 
can magistrate. The word civitas does not mean a city, but a State, 
a people, a body politic. In those States, where all important mat- 
ters were discussed by the people in their collective body, no wonder 
that the man who possessed the powers of persuasion should be the 
leading demagogue. The oratory of the savage was unpolished, but 
it was animated by the emotions of the heart ; and the heart is the 
source of forcible and commanding eloquence. 

y The cowards here intended were, most probably, those who of- 
fered to attend a chief to the wars a3 his faithful followers, and after- 
wards deserted. Men of that description were accounted infamous. 
Caesar, b. vi. s. 22. By a law of the Lombards, the freeman, who 
was summoned to defend his country against a foreign invasion, 
and refused to carry arms in that pressing exigence, was adjudged 
guilty of a capital crime, and suffered as a traitor. 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 239 

abscondi. (z) Sed et lcvioribus delictis, pro modo, poena: 
equorum pecorumque numero convicti multantur : .'a) 
pars multae Regi, vel civitati, pars ipsi, qui vindicatur, vei 
propinquis ejus exsolvitur. Eliguntur in iisdem conciliis 
et Principes, (b) qui jura per pagos vicosque reddant. 
Ceuteni singulis ex plebe comites, consilium simul et auc- 
toritas, adsunt. 

XIII. Nihil autem neque publicae neque privatae rei, 



r The Germans distinguished the crimes which were prejudicial 
to the State, such as treason and desertion, froaa cowardice, which 
they ranked with those unnatural passions that ought never to be 
heard of in society. The ejerny of his country was punished as a 
public example. Private vices, in themselves base and flagitious, 
were considered as disgraceful to the guilty, not as an extensive mis- 
ch'ef, and therefore swept away from the notice and the memory of 
man. Ignominious offenders were suffocated in mud, and their bo- 
dies were concealed from sight, to be forgotten as soon as possible. 
This distinction of crimes and punishments continued so long, that, by 
a law of the Burgundians, the wife, who proved false to her husband, 
was in like manner put to death in the mud. Burgundian Laws, tit. 
xxxiv. 

a In the list of crimes, for which a fine or composition was allowed, 
homicide, adultery, theft, and other personal injuries were included. 
See this Tract, s. 21. The laws, which the Germans establish in 
their new settlements, when they quitted their forests, and overran 
all Europe, are the best commentary on Tacitus. They confirm him 
in every thing material. A race of barbarians, issuing from their 
woods and marshes, and bearing down all before them, would na- 
turally bring with them their primitive ideas, and transfuse them into 
all the laws established in the conquered country. Whoever will be 
at the pains of examining their code of laws, will soon perceive, that 
in their various fines for offsnces committed, they attended altogether 
to the quantity of the damage, the malice expressed or implied by 
the deed, and the rank of the person injured. 

The fine in Germany was a mulct of cattle, the only riches of the 
country ; but in process of time, when the Roman empire was over- 
turned, and the invaders became acquainted with money, the fines 
were pecuniary. By the Ripuarian laws, instead of the penal sum, 
called the werezild, the composition might be made in cattle, at the 
option of the offender. 

b The whole country of Germany was divided into different States. 
In some of these monarchy was established, and in others the republi- 
can form of government. The former submitted to kings ; the 
latter had their chiefs. In Germany the leader of armies was elec- 
tive. In each State or tribs, the divisions were, 1st, the people ; 2dly, 
the cantons, or shires, as they are called in Britain ; 3dly,a»he vici, or 
hundreds. Magistrates were chosen in general conventions of the 
people, to preside in the several cantons and hundred?: 



24G G. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 851. 

nisi armati agunt. (c) Sed anna sumere non ante cuiquam 
moris, quam civitas suffecturum probaverit. Turn in ipso 
concilio, vel Principum aliquis, vel pater, vel propinquus, 
scuto frameaque juvenem ornant : (d) haec apud illos to- 
ga, (c) hie primus juventae honos : ante hoc domus pars 
videntur, mox Reipublicae. Insignis nobilitas, aut magna 
patrum merita, Principis dignationem etiam adolescentulis 
adsignant : ceteris robustioribus ac jam pridem probatis 
adgregantur : nee rubor, inter comites adspici. Gradus 
quin etiam et ipse comitatus habet, judicio ejus, quern sec- 
tantur : magnaque et comitum aemulatio, quibus primus 

c The custom of wearing swords on all occasions prevailed in every 
country where the Germans took possession. That the magistrates 
never went armed, is to be ascribed to the clergy, who, for many cen- 
turies, presided in the courts of justice. The Romans, it is well 
known, never wore their swords but in time of war, or upon a 
journey. 

d This seems to be the origin of chivalry, that famous institution, 
which spread over the greatest part of Europe in the eleventh centu- 
ry. It is related of Charlemagne, that he gave a sword with great 
pomp and solemnity to his son, prince Louis. La Bletterie says, that 
a ceremony, little different from that now before us, is still subsisting 
in many parts of G ermany. When a young page has passed the 
time of life for his employment, the prince whom he served gives a 
grand entertainment, and, in the presence of his courtiers, receives 
homage from his page, and then girds a sword on his side, and some- 
times makes him a present of a horse. This is called giving the 
right to carry arms. Brotier observes, that the sons of kings often re- 
ceived a present of arms from a foreign state ; and, in conformity to 
that custom, Audoin, after a signal victory, was desired by the Lorn- 
bards to admit his son, who had signalized his valour in the field of 
battle, to dine at the same table with his father ; but the conqueror 
made answer, that it could not be till the young prince received a 
sword from some foreign potentate. VVarnefrid De Gestis Langobar- 
dorurtiy lib. i. s. 23. 

e When the young men of Rome attained the age of seventeen 
years, they changed their dress called the prtetexta, for the toga v iri- 
tis, the manly gown. On that occasion the youth was conducted by 
his friends into the Forum (or sometimes into the Capitol,) where, 
with much solemnity, he changed his habit, and the day was called 
dies tirocinii, or the day on which he was capable of being a cadet in 
the army. The young German was, in like manner, introduced to the 
public by his relations. He then received a shield and a spear, and 
this is properly compared to the manly gown of the Romans. The 
same ceremony was observed by the Scandinavians. At the age of 
fifteen their young men became their own masters, by receiving a 
sword, a buckler, and a lance, and this was performed in some public 
meeting. See Northern Antiquities, vol, i. p, 197o 



* c. 98. 6ERMANIA. 241 

apud Principem suum locus : et Principum, cui plurimi et 
acerrimi comites. Haec clignitas, (/) haec vires, magno sem- 
per electorum juvenum globo circumdari, in pace decus, 
in bello praesidium. Nee solum in sua gente cuique, sed 
apud finitimas quoque civitates id nomen, ea gloria est, si 
numero ac virtute comitatus emineat : expetuntur enim le- 
gationibus, et muneribus ornantur, et ipsa plerumque fama 
bella profligant. 

XIV. Cum ventum in aciem, turpe Principi, virtute 
vinci, turpe comitatui, virtutem Principis non adasquare. 
Jam vero infame in omnem vitam ac probrosum, supersti- 
tem Principi suo ex acie recessisse. (g) Ilium defendere, 
tueri, sua quoque fortia facta gloriae ejus adsignare, praeci- 
puum sacramentum est. Principes pro victoria pugnant ; 
comites pro Principe. Si civitas, in qua orti sunt, longa 
pace et otio torpeat ; plerique nobilium adolescentium pe- 
. tunt ultro eas nationes, quae turn bellum aliquodgerunt ; (h) 
quia et ingrata genti quies, et facilius inter ancipitia clares- 
cant, magnumque comitatum non nisi vi belloque tueantur : 
exigunt enim Principis sui liberalitate ilium bellatorem 
equum, illam cruentam victricemque frameam. (i) Nam 

/ War was the ruling passion of all the northern nations. Among 
such a people it cannot be matter of wonder, that the chief, who led 
them on to danger and heroic fortitude, should be idolized by the 
soldiers. In Gaul, the warrior had a train of clients and followers in 
proportion to his fame in arms : that was the only mark of grandeur 
known amongst them. Caesar, b. vi. s. 14. 

g When Chonodomarus, king of the Alamanni, was taken prisoner 
by the Romans, his military companions, to the number of two hun- 
dred, and three of the king's most intimate friends, thinking it a flagi- 
tious crime to live in safety after such an event, surrendered them- 
selves to be leaded with fetters. Ammian. Marcellin. b. xvi. e. 13> 
There are instances of the same kind in Tacitus. 

h It appears from Caesar's account, that they had another way o 
exercising their courage, when their nation was in a state of profound 
peace. They deemed it highly honourable to lay waste the country 
all around their frontier, conceiving that, to extirminate their neigh- 
bours, and suffer none to settle near them, was a proof of valour. 
They had still another kind of employment : robbery had nothing 
infamous in it when committed out of the territories of the state to 
which they belonged ; they considered it as a practice of great use, 
tending to exercise their youth, and prevent sloth and idleness. 
Caesar, b. vi. s. 22 

i From the liberality of the chieftain in granting presents to his 
followers, Montesquieu deduces the origin of vassalage. F^efs. or 
feudal allotments of land, did not subsist in Germany. The chiefs or 

2£* 



242 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. u. c. 851, 

epulae, et, quamquam incompti, largi tamen adparatus pro 
stipendio cedunt : materia munificentiae per bella et rap- 
tus. Nee arare terram, aut exspectare annum, tam facile 
persuaseris, quam vocare hostes et vulnera mereri : pi- 
grum quinimmo et iners videtur, sudore adquirere, quod 
possis sanguine parare. 

XV. Qrjotiens bella non ineunt, multum venatibus, plus 
per otium transigunt, (j) dediti somno ciboque. Fortissi- 
mus quisque ac bellicosissimus nihil agens, delegata domus 
et Penatium et agrorum cura feminis senibusque et infir- 
missimo cuique ex famiiia : ipsi hebent : mira diversitate 
naturae, cum idem homines sic ament inertiam et oderint 
quietem. Mos est civitatibus, ultro ac viritim conferre 
Principibus, vel armenlorum, vel.frugum, (k) quod pro 

princes had nothing to bestow but arms and horses ; feasts and plenty 
of provisions. This was the whole wealth of the German warrior in 
his own country ; this was what he imparted freely to his followers. 
In process of time, when those fierce invaders took po-session of large 
tracts of the conquered countries, the followers of the chiefs, no 
longer content with feasts, and presents of horses and arms, demand- 
ed allotments of lands, which at first, were beneficiary only, and 
afterwards for life. In time they became hereditary, with conditions 
of military service annexed to the grant. Hence the origin of the 
Feudal System. Spirit of Laws, b. xxx. ch. 3 and 4. See Dr. Ro- 
bertson, Charles V. p. 260, 283. See Abbe Millot, Elemms de VHis- 
ioire de France, vol. i. p. 190. 

j The literal meaning of the original is, They do not pass much of 
their time in hunting, but more of it in sluggish idleness. Non mul- 
tum venatibus, plus per ot turn transigunt. This, at the first blush, 
seems to contradict Caesar, who say*, book vi. s. 20, their whole life 
is addicted to hunting and war To reconcile the two authors, Lip- 
sius, and others since his time, propose to leave out of the or.ginal text 
the negative word non. This, perhaps, would be right, but the 
meaning of the passage is clear without any alteration. They hunt- 
ed during a few months of ihe year, and then gave up all their time 
to the sports of the chase. In that pursuit consisted their actual em- 
ploy ment. The rest of the year was loitered away in sleep and wine. 

k Brotier finds in this passage the origin of tributes, by which he 
must be understood to mean voluntary contributions. The Romans 
imposed a tribute, and other imposts under various uames ofstipendia 
B.ndvectigalia^ on all the conquered provinces. In Germany, where 
no man had a fixed possessioi "of lands, and property was disregard- 
ed, the chieftains were obliged to maintain their followers or com- 
panions in war. But plunder and rapine were the only revenue of 
fhe chief. To enable him, however, to support his rank, the diffe- 
rent states (Civitates) sent him voluntary presents of corn and cattle. 
When migrations were afterwards spread over Europe, the soldiers, 
after every victor/, claimed their siaare of booty, and soon obtained fr 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 24$ 

honore acceptum, etiam necessitatibus subvenit. Gaudent 
praecipue finitimarum gentium donis, quae non modo a sin- 
gulis, sed publice niittuntur : electiequi, magna arma, pha- 
lerae, torquesque. (J) Jam et pecuniam accipere docui- 
mus. (m) 

XVI. Nullas Germanorum populis urbes habitari, (n) 
satis notum est : ne pati quidem inter se junctas sedes. 
Colunt discreti ac diversi, ut fons, ut campus, ut nemus pla- 
cuit. Vicos locant, non in nostrum morem, connexis et 
cohaerentibus aedificiis : suam quisque domum spatio cir- 
cumdat, (o) sive adversus casus ignis remedium, sive insci- 

portion of lands, but those lands were for the benefit of the indivi- 
dual, aod at first for a year only. When they were made estates for 
life, and afterwards hereditary, every tenant of a certain portion of 
land was bound to attend the king in his army for forty days every 
year. That personal attendance growing troublesome, the tenants 
compounded with the crown for a pecuniary satisfaction, which in 
time, was levied by assessments, under the name of seulage, tallxa- 
ges, or subsidies. But even these were not to be levied without 
the consent of the common council of the realm. King John was 
obliged so to declare in his Magna Charta. See Blackstone, vol. i* 
p. 309 and 310. 

I These military presents were not peculiar to the Germans, 
The Romans had their civic crown, and other marks of distinction, 
Pliny the Elder relates, that Siccius Dentatus, tribune of the peo- 
ple under the consulship of Sp. Tarpeius and Aul. Aterius, A. U. C 
400, not long after the expulsion of the Tarquins, was engaged in 
one hundred and twenty battles, and returned with five and forty 
wounds, aH honourably received in front, and not one behind, and 
that for his valour he received eighteen lances, twenty-five rich ac- 
coutrements, three gold chains, and twenty-six civic or mural 
orowns. Pliny, b. vii. s. 28. 

m This was a dangerous lesson, which has been followed in every 
age and country. Herodian says of the Germans in his time, that 
they were greedy of money, and always ready for gold to barter a 
peace with the Romans. Herod, lib. vi. 

n Ptolemy, who published his System of Geography under the 
Antonines, uear half a century after Tacitus, reckons no less thau 
ninety cities in Germany ; but those cities must be understood to be 
a number of huts, like those of the American savages. Ammianus 
Marcellinus, an author more to be relied upon, who wrote the his- 
tory of the Roman wars in Germany, does not mention a single city. 
He says, on the contrary, that the Germans beheld the Roman cities 
with an eye of contempt, and called them so many sepulchres en- 
compassed with nets. Ctppida ut circumdata reiiis busta declinant, 
Marcell. lib. xvi. c. 2. The idea of regular cities was not known 
in Germany till after the time of Charlemagne. See Cluveriusj 
"Gtrmania Antiqua, lib. i. 

o The vacant space of ground which encompassed the house, was 



244 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 861. 

tia aedificandi. Ne caementorum quidem apud illos aut te- 
gularum iisus : materia ad omnia utuntur informi et citra 
speciem aut delectationem. Quaedam loca diligentius inli- 
nunt terra, ita pura ac splendente, ut picturam ac linea- 
manta colorum irnitetur. Solent et subterraneos specus 
aperire, eosque multo insuper fimo onerant, suffugium hie- 
mi et receptaculum frugibus : quia rigorem frigorum ejus- 
modi locis molliunt : et, fei quando hostis advenit, aperta 
populatur, abdita autem et defossa aut ignorantur, aut eo 
ipso fallunt, quod quserenda sunt. 

XVII. Tegumen omnibus sagum, (p) fibula, aut, si desit, 
spina consertum : cetera intecti totos dies juxta focum at- 
que ignem agunt. Locupletissimi veste distinguuntur, non 
fluitante, sicut Sarmatae ac Parthi, sed stricta et singulos 
artus exprimente. (9) Gerunt et ferarum pelles, proximi 
ripae negligenter, ulteriores exquisitius, ut quibus nullus 
per commercia cultus. Eligunt feras et detracta velamina 
spargunt maculis pellibusque belluarum, quas exterior 
Oceanus atque ignotum mare gignit. (r) Nee alius feminis 
quam viris habitus, nisi quod feminae saspius lineis amicti- 
bus velantur, eosque purpura variant, partemque vestitus 
superioris in manicas non extendunt, nudae brachia ac la- 



that celebrated Salic land that descended to the male issue, and never 
fcothe female line. 

p This mantle, or sagum, is often called Rheno by Latin authors. 
The reason is given by Caesar, who says, that the Germans are 
clothed in the skins of animals called Rhenones ; but the mantle 
was so short, that it left the greatest part of the body naked. Caesar, 
b. vi. a. 20. See a similar account of the Suevians, the most war- 
like of all the German nations, Caesar, b. iv. s. 1 ; and see Pompo- 
musMela, b. iii. s. 3. Whoever would know more of the German 
dresses, will find a full account in Pelloutier, Histoire des Cellis, b. 
ii.s. 6. 

q Cluverius, the celebrated geographer, in his Gtrmania Anti- 
qua, decribes the tight dresses of the Germans, in such plain terms, 
as will not, in point of delicacy, admit of a translation. The loose 
attire of the Sarmatians was, however, adopted by some of the Ger- 
man settlers on the western side of the Rhine. 

r The people bordering: on the Baltic, and also on the Northern 
Ocean, called by Tacitus the Exterior Sea, were not only curious 
in their choice of furs, but studious to embellish them with shells 
and shining stones, and fragments of the scales of the various fish 
found in those seas. According to Cluverius, the women in Saxo- 
ny, in Prussia, Livonia, and in general throughout Germany, wear 
shifts without sleeves, and leave the bosom bare. 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 245 

certos : sed et proxima pars pectoris patet : quamquam se- 
vers illic matrimonia. (s) 

XVIII. Nee ullam morura partem magis laudaveris : 
nam prope soli barbarorum singulis uxoribus contenti sunt, 
exceptis admodum paucis, qui non libidine, sed ob nobili- 
tatem, plurimis nuptiis ambiuntur. Dotem non uxor ma- 
rito, sed uxori maritus, offert. Intersunt parentes et pro- 
pinqui, ac munera probant : munera non ad delicias mulie- 
bres quaesita, nee quibus nova nupta comatur ; sed boves 
et frenatum equum et scutum cum framea gladioque. In 
haec munera uxor accipitur : atque invicem ipsa armorum 
aliquid viro adfert : hoc maximum vinculum, haec arcana 
sacra, hos conjugates Deos arbitrantur. Ne se mulier ex- 
tra virtutum cogitationes extraque bellorum casus putet, 
ipsis incipientis matrimonii auspiciis admonetur, venire se 
laborum periculorumque sociam, idem in pace, idem in 
proelio passuram ausuramque : hoc juncti boves, hoc pa- 
ratus equus, hoc data arma denuntiant. Sic vivendum, sic 
pereundum : accipere se, quae liberis inviolata ac digna 
reddat, (f) quae nurus accipiant, rursusque ad nepotes re- 
ferant. 

5 In this passage Tacitus seizes the opportunity to commend the 
noble simplicity of the German marriages, in order to pass a point- 
ed censure on the nuptial ceremonies established at Rome, and the 
facility with which both sexes violated the marriage vow. Mon- 
tesquieu, in his compendious manner, has shown the progress of 
vice till it triumphed over the office of the censor, and established an 
entire corruption of manners. The civil wars reduced the number 
of citizens; and of those that remained, few were married. Julius 
Caesar and Augustus passed their laws against celibacy, called by 
Tacitus, Annals^ b. iii. s. 25, the Julian statutes, and by him de- 
clared to be a feeble remedy. See Spirit of Laws, b. xxiii. ch. 
21. The lines of Horace stating the same complaint need not be 
quoted. The indignation of Juvenal in his sixth satire is sufficient- 
ly known. The simplicity and virtue of the marriage contract 
among the tribes of Germany are given by Tacitus as a striking 
contrast to the depravity of Roman manners. The instances in 
which a plurality of wives was indulged, occurred but seldom, and 
even then were founded on special reasons. Thus we read that 
Ariovistus had two wives : the first of the Suevian nation : the se- 
cond, the sister of a king, who courted the alliance of that German 
warrior. Caesar, b. i. s. 63. Montesquieu assigns the same rea- 
son for the number of wives among the kings of the first race. Spi- 
rit of Laws, b. xviii. ch. 24. 

t By a law of the Saxons, if a woman have male issue, she is to 
possess the portion she received in marriage during her life, and 
transmit it to her sons. Leges Saxonum, tit. vii. De Dole, 



246 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851. 

XIX. Ergo septaB pudicitia agunt, nullis spectaculorum 
inlecebris, nullis conviviorum inritationibus conruptae. (u) 
Litterarum secreta viri pariter ac feminae ignorant, (y) 
Paucissima in tam numerosagente adulteria ; quorum poena 
praesens, et maritis permissa. (w) Accisis crinibus, (x) 
nudatam, coram propinquis, expellit domo maritus, ac per 
omnem vicum verbere agit : publicatae enim pudicitiae nul- 
la venia : non forma, non eetate, non opibus maritum inve- 
nerit. Nemo enim illic vitia ridet ; nee, conrumpere et 
eonrumpi, saeculum vocatur. Melius quidem adhuc ese 
civitates, in quibus tantum virgines nubunt, (y) et cum spe 

u Seneca considers public spectacles as so many places of seduc- 
tion. Nothing, he says, is so dangerous as loitering at such diver- 
sions, for, when the heart is softened by pleasure, the passions stand 
ready for the admission of every vice. How is this to be under- 
stood? I return from those places more avaricious, more ambi- 
tious, more luxurious. Senec. ep. vii. 

v iMaroboduus and Adgandestrius, two German kings, are sup- 
posed to have been able to write, since their letters to Rome are 
mentioned, Annals, b. iii. s. 63, and 88; but their countrymen in 
general were rude and illiterate. Many centuries passed before 
reading and writing came into general use. In the middle ages, 
kings and warriors were not able to write; and it is well known 
that in Britain a lord of parliament, was, by law, entitled to his 
clergy, though he could not read. 

w By a law of the Visigoths, if a woman was guilty of adultery, 
but not taken in the fact, it was competent to her husband to ac- 
cuse her before the magistrate ; and if the charge was supported by 
evidence, both the offenders were delivered over to the husband, 
to be dealt with as he should think proper. If the husband killed 
both in the fact, it was justifiable. Laws of the Visigoths, tit. De 
Adulter Us, lex. 3. 

x The hair long and flowing was considered as an ornament, and 
therefore by the Salic law, tit. xxviii. to cut off the hair of an inno- 
cent person, was an injury severely punished. In some parts of 
what is now Westphalia, the women took upon them to execute 
justice on the adulteress, following her with stripes from village to 
village, and with small knives inflicting wounds, till they left the of- 
fender breathless, or at the point of death. 

y The facility with which divorces were obtained at Rome, in- 
troduced an indefinite right of renouncing one marriage and em- 
bracing another, as often as caprice or a new passion dictated. 
The letter of the law was observed, but the spirit was grossly coun- 
teracted. Lusus erat sacraz connubia fallere tcedce, says Martial ; 
and the same author, in an excellent epigram, tells us that the Ju- 
lian law against adultery was revived, and yet, in less than thirty 
days, Thelesina married her tenth husband ; if that may be called 
a marriage, which in fact was no better than a legal adultery; 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 247 

votoque usoris semel transigitur. Sic unum accipiunt ma- 
ritum, quo modo unum corpus unamque vitam, nt uila co- 
gitatio ultra, ne longior cupiditas, ne tamquam mariium, set! 
tamquam matrimonium, anient. Numerum liberorum 
iinire, aut quemquam ex agnatis necare, (z) flagiiium habe- 
tur : plusque ibi boni mores valent, quam alibi bonae 
leges. 

XX. In omni domo nudi ac sordidi, (a) in hos artus, in 
base corpora, quae miramur, excrescunt. (b) Sua quem- 
que mater uberibus alit, nee ancillis ac nutricibus delegan- 
tur. Dominum ac servum nullis educationis deliciis dig- 
noscas. Inter eadem pecora, in eadem hmr-o degunt: do- 
nee aetas separet ingenuos, virtus agnoscat. (c) Sera ju- 

Chastity was in higher respect among the {ribes of Germany. Ac- 
cording to Valerias Maximus, the Cimbrian women who mar hed 
with the army into Italy, were all virgins, and assigned that reason 
to Marias, when they made it their request to be admitted into the 
vestal order. 

8 Great latitude was allowed by the Roman law to the paternal 
authority. The father, contrary to all the rights cf nature, had an 
absolute jurisdiction over his children. He could condemn them to 
death. Such a power, nothing short of absolute dominion, gave 
birth to a train of evils. Infants were abandoned, thrown into ri- 
vers, and exposed to wild beasts. See Minucms Felix, in Oetano, 
cap. 50. 

a Justin says of the Scythians, Justice is cultivated in that coun- 
try more through the disposition of the | eople, than by declaratory 
laws. Justitia gentis ingtniis cuila, non legibhs. Justin, b. ii. ch. 
3. The same WTiter adds, It is altogether astonishing that natural 
instinct should teach a savage race, w r hat neither moral wisdom, ror 
the precepts of philosophy, cculd establish in Greece. Elegant 
manners yielded to unmstrutted nature. Ignorance of vice did 
more among barbarians than all the boasted systems of a polished 
nation. Justin, ub. ii. s. 2. 

b Seneca, on the subject of training a youth in the way he is to 
follow, says, if he was born in Germany, he w r ould, even in his in- 
fancy, brandish his little javelin. la another work, he mentions the 
promptitude of the German mind ; the love of aim?, to which they 
are torn and bred, their patience and firmness under every hard- 
ship ; and their neglect of all covering for their bodies, wmile they 
have no retreat to shelter them from the inclemency of the 
weather. 

c The age of manhood seems to have commenced at the end of 
their twelfth year. Stout and well-grown boys were capable of 
bearing arms, in a country where the soldier was equipped with 
light armour. Hence Kiug Theodoric says, It is absurd that the 
young men, who are fit for military service, should be deemed inca- 
pable of conducting themselves. Valour fixes the age of manhood* 



248 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c.Bol. 

venum Venus ; eoque inexhausta pubertas : nee virgines 
festinantur ; eadem juventa, simiiis procentas : pares va- 
lida3que aiiscentur : (d) ac robora parentum liben referunt. 
Soroium filiis idem apud avunculum, qui apud patrem ho- 
nor. Quidam sanctiorem arctioremque hunc nexum san- 
guinis arbitrantur, et in accipi^ndis obsidibus magis exi- 
gunt ; tamquam ii et animuni firmius, et domum latius, te- 
neant. Heredes tamen successoresque sui cuique libe- 
ri : (e) et nullum testamenium. Si liberi non sunt, proxi- 



He, who is able to pierce the foe, ought to combat every vice. See 
Cassiodorus, Epist. 1. 

d Tacitus uses the words, pares valldceque miscentur, that is, they 
are married equal aod robust. Brotier understands the expression 
as applying to the equality of conditions, or a marriage among per- 
sons of equal rank; and he cites laws from the German code, an- 
nexing penalties to those of both sexes who marry persons of inferior 
rank. But the equality here intended by Tacitus, seems from the 
context to be no other than maturity of years in the contracting 
parties. The distinctions of rank, which took place among the 
Franks in Gaul, were unknown to the German tribes in their own 
country. 

e Thus we see that, by custom (the unwritten law of the Ger- 
mans,) the females were excluded from the succession to the lands 
of their deceased father. What those lauds were is clearly explain- 
ed by Montesquieu. While the Franks, he says, lived in their own 
country, their whole stock consisted of slaves, herds of cattle, horses, 
arms, and accoutrements. Lands for cultivation were assigned to 
them by the state for a year only, and after that time it was resumed 
by the public. W r hat then were the lands to which the male issue 
succeeded ? Every hut or oabin had a precinct of ground, and that 
was the estate that descended to the sons, or went in the male line. 
It was called Salic land, because the mansion of a German was call- 
ed Sal, and the space inclosing it Salbac, the homestead. When 
the Franks issued from their own country, and gained possessions in 
Gaul, they still continued to give to their new iettlements the name 
of Salic land ; and hence, the law of the Franks that regulated the 
course of descent, was called the Salic Law. Rapin has left us an 
elaborate dissertation on the subject. He takes notice of two diffe- 
rent editions of the Salic law ; but the last, it seems, is not correct. 
From the former, Rapin states six rules of succession to land property. 
1. If a man dies without issue, his father or hi? mother shall inherit. 2. 
If he leaves neither father nor mother, his brother or his sister shall 
succeed. 3. If there is no surviving brother or sister, the sister of 
his mother shall -e entitled, 4. If the mother has left no sister, the 
sister of the father shall succeed. 5. If the father has left no sister, 
the next relation of the male lice shall have the estate. 6. No part 
of the Salic land shall pass to the females ; but the whole inheritance 
descends to the male line, that is, the sons shall be entitled to the 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 249 

mus gradus in possessione fratres, patrui, avunculi. Quan- 
to plus propinquorum, quo major adfinium numerus, tanto 
gratiosior senectus, nee ulla orbitatis pretia. 

XXI. Suscipere tarn inimicitias, seu patris, seu propin- 
qui, quam amicitias, necesse est : (/) nee inplacabiles du- 
rant. Luitur enim etiam homicidium certo armentorum 
ac pecorum numero, (g) recipitque satisfactionem universa 

succession. Rapin has entered into a long discussion, but Montes- 
quieu was master of his subject, and with the brevity of Tacitus, has 
placed the whole in the clearest light. The rule among the Ger- 
mans in their own country was, that the Salic land should go to the 
sword, and not to the distaff. The daughters were excluded, be- 
cause they passed by marriage into other families. The Salic law 
was founded on the customs and manners of Germany. If the father 
left children, the daughters were excluded, and the right of inherit- 
ance vested in the sons. The well known law of the French mo- 
narchy, which excludes the female line from the succession to the 
crown, had its origin in the woods of Germany. It is true that, in 
process of time, the law of the Franks gave way to the civil law ; 
and women, though incapable of performing military duty, were al- 
lowed to succeed to fiefs, which, for that reason, were called impro- 
per fiefs. The Salic law lost its force in France, except as to the suc- 
cession to the crown, in which respect it has remained inflexible from 
the earliest period of the monarchy to the present time. Spirit of 
Laws, b. xviii. ch. 22. See also llapin's Dissertation. 

f In the rude state of society, before men had any notion of an 
umpire or magistrate to decide their differences, it was natural that 
every man should exercise a right to repel injuries from himself and 
his family. It was also natural that he should demand atonement 
from the wrong-doer. Resentment is an active principle in the 
frame of man. In the minds of savages it inflamed a spirit of revenge. 
Their relations, their friends and their clan, joined in the quarrel. 
Whole tribes waged war against each other for the sake of an indi- 
vidual. Ties of consanguinity and the sentiments of social affection, 
contributed to aggravate the mischief. Every rude uncivilized state 
was filled with intestine broils. It was the pride of a German to ex ■. 
pect redress from the vigour of his own arm. And yet we see some 
rudiments of civil society among the ancient Germans. They be- 
gan to form an idea of a public interest in the preservation of peace. 
We have seen in this tract, s. xii. that a composition for offences 
was made by a mulct of cattle, and that the king or chiefs of the 
State received a fine for the violation of the public peace. The 
savage, who before that time depended on his own martial vigour, 
was willing to resign his resentment to the direction of the magis- 
trate and to receive a staled compensation. The spirit of revenge 
was appeased, and the deadly feud of course gave way to the new 
jurisdiction. 

g Thi* compromise for manslaughter and other personal ihjuriet 
had the happy effect of curbing the ferocity of a barbarous race ; but 

23 



250 C. CORN. TACITI. a. ir. c. 851. 

domus : utiliter in publicum ; quia periculosiores sunt in- 
imicitise juxta libertatem. Convictibus et hospitiis non 
alia gens effusius indulget. (Ji) Quemcumque mortaiium 
arcere tecto, nefas habetur : pro fortuna quisque adpara- 
tis epulis excipit. Cum defecere, qui modo hoepes fuerat, 
monstrator hospitii et comes, proximam domum non invita- 
ti adeunt : nee interest : pari humanitate accipiuntur, 
Notum ignotumque, quantum ad jus hospitii, nemo discer- 
nit. Abeunti, si quid poposcerit, concedere moris : et 
poscendi invicem eadem facilitas. Gaudent muneribus : 
seel nee data inputant, nee acceptis obligantur. Victus in- 
ter hospites comis. 

XXII. Statirn e somno, quern plerumque in diem extra- 
hunt, lavantur, saspius calida, ut apud quos plurimum hiems 
occupat. Lauti cibum capiunt : separatse singulis sedes et 
sua cuique mensa : (i) turn ad negotia, nee minus ssepe ad 
convivia, procedunt armati. Diem noctemque continuare 



still the principle of the composition was a satisfaction to the in- 
jured party. Avarice was called in to appease revenge. A debt 
was supposed to be due for the crime committed, and this appears to 
have been established in the remotest ages This mode of compo- 
sition for crimes and injuries was adopted by the various commu- 
nities in Germany ; but their descendants, after their irruption 
into Gaul, Italy, and Spain, still claimed the right of waging pri- 
vate war for private injuries. Hostilities continued during a num- 
ber of years, and the animosity of the contending parties laid a 
sceue of blood. Charlemagne endeavoured by a positive law to 
abolish the mischief; but the genius of one man was not sufficient 
to eradicate a custom so firmly established. See Robertson, Hist, 
of Charles V. vol. i. p. 54. 

h Tacitus 13 confirmed by Julius Cassar, who says, the laws of 
hospitality are inviolable among the Germans. Their visiters are 
sure of a cordial reception. Their houses are open to every guest. 
Book vi. ». 22. 

i The manner in which the Romans placed themselves at table, 
differed from most other nations. Three couches called triclinia, 
were ranged in order, but so as to leave the end of the table open for 
the approach of the servants. Three persons lay, in effeminate luxu- 
ry, on each of the couches ; sometimes four or five. Cicero, in Piso- 
nem, says, there was nothing in his house neat or elegant. Five 
Greeks and often more, lay crowded on one couch. Nihil apud 
hunc lautum, nihil elegans. Grceci quint stipati in lectutis, scepe 
plures. Tacitus seems never to be better pleased, than when he 
has opportunity of passing an oblique censure on the manners of the 
Komans. Accordingly we find, that the Germans in a more manly 
way seated themselves each at his own table. 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 251 

potando, nulli probrum. Crebrae, ut inter vinolentos, 
rixae, raro conviciis, saepius caede et vulneribus transigun- 
tur. (j) Sed et de reconciliandis invicem inimicis et jun- 
gendis adfinitatibus et adsciscendis Principibus, de pace 
denique ac bello, (fc) plerumque in conviviis consultant : 
tamquam nullo magis tempore aut ad simplices cogitationes 
pateat animus, aut ad magnas incalescat. Gens non astuta ; 
nee callida, aperit adhuc secreta pectoris licentia joci. 
Ergo detecta et nuda omnium mens postera die retractatur, 
et salva utriusque temporis ratio est. Deliberant, dum 
tingere nesciunt : constituunt, dum errare non possunt. 

XXIII. Potui humor ex hordeo aut frumento, in quan- 
dam similitudinem vini conruptus. Proximi ripae et vinum 
mercantur. Cibi simplices : agrestia poma, recens fera, 
aut lac concretum. (/) Sine adparatu, sine blandimen- 



j The same love of liquor, with all its consequential mischiefs, 
has been observed by all travellers among the savage tribes of Ame- 
rica. Charlevoix says, the avarice of the French dealers introduced 
drunkenness among them, and that in the streets of Montreal, hus- 
bands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters were frequently 
-seen, in a state of intoxication, worrying one another with their teeth, 
like so many enraged wolves. Charlevoix, Journal of a Voyage to 
JVorth America, letter viii. To suppress the evil consequences of 
intoxication among the Franks, the Salic law ordained, that if a man 
were killed at a convivial meeting, in company with five or seven, 
the survivors should convict one as the offender, or jointly pay the 
composition for his death. Tit. De Homicidiis in Conrivio factis. 

k Lipsius says, that, when he read Xenophon's account of the Per- 
sians (Cyropozdia, lib. viii.) he was struck with the wonderful con- 
formity of the eastern nations to the manners of the ancient Germans. 
See the speech of Civilis in a sacred grove, when all were warm with 
liquor. Hist. b. iv. s. 14. Plutarch in his Symposiacs, b. vii. qu. 9, 
observes, that it was the custom of the Greeks, as well as the Persians, 
to debate of state affairs at their convivial meetings. He refers to a 
passage in Homer, where Nestor advises Agamemnon to prepare a 
feast, and then hear the ablest counsellor. For this Plutarch gives a 
reason : There is, he says, a wineless drunkenness excited by anger, 
malice, ambition, and other turbulent passions ; but wine rather 
overcomes the bad affections, and stirs and agitates the generous emo- 
tions of the heart. Among the American savages, when any business 
of consequence is transacted, they appoint a feast upon the occasion, 
of which almost the whole tribe partakes. European Settlements in 
America, vol. i. p. 178. 

/ What Tacitus calls lac concretum, coagulated milk, Caesar calls 
by the name of cheese. Major pars viclus eorum lacte, et caseo, et 
came consislit. De Bell Gale lib. vi. s. 21. Pliny the elder won- 
ders, that a race of men, who lived so much on milk, had not the skill 



252 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851. 

tis, expellunt famem. (m) Adversus sitim non eadem 
temperantia. Si indulseris ebrietati, suggerendo quantum 
concupiscunt, (n) baud minus facile vitiis, quam armis, 
vincentur. 

XXIV. Genus spectaculorum unum atque in omni coetu 
idem. Nudi juvenes, quibus id ludicrum est, inter gladios 
se atque infestas frameas saltu jaciunt. Exercitatio artem 
paravit, ars decoreni : non in quaestum tamem, aut merce- 
dem : quamvis audacis lasciviae pretium est, voluptas spec- 
tantium. Aleam (o) (quod mirere) sobrii inter seria exer- 



to make cheese. They converted it into a kind of whey and butter, 
and used it as an unguent. JYa/. Hist, b. xi. s. 86. Sidonius Apoli- 
naris, in a little poem on the Germans, tells us, that they made use of 
butter to oil their hair. 

m The refinements of the culinary science were unknown to the 
Germans. Pomponius Mela says, that they fed on the raw flesh of 
animals, either recently killed, or after it was pounded in the hide by 
their feet and hands to some degree of softness. See Mela, b. iii. ch. 
3. The Romans, on the contrary, studied the pleasures of the table, 
and luxury was in such vogue, that, as we are told by Pliny, the price 
of a triumph was not too much for a good cook. The man who by 
his exquisite skill could enable his master to eat up his fortune, was 
in the highest request. Plin. lib. ix. s. 17. 

n Thus we know, that the Europeans, when they settled in North 
America, soon found it their interest to supply the natives with spiritu- 
ous liquors. They waged a war of gin and brandy against the various 
tribes, some of which have been subdued and others almost totally 
extirpatsd, by their own drunkenness. See Charlevoix, letter viii. 
The same writer says, that a savage, being asked by a French officer 
what he thought the brandy, which he loved so much, was made of, 
gave for answer : " It is made of tongues and hearts ; for when I 
have drunk of it, I fear nothing, and I talk like an angel." Letter 
xxi p. 83. 

o The rage for gaming, 'Which has been observed among barbari- 
ans in almost every quarter of the globe, may be accounted for with- 
out much difficulty. The life of a savage is passed in war, in hunting, 
fishing, and in scenes of plunder and rapine. When that employment 
no longer calls for his exertions, he sinks down in listless indolence. 
The ordinary occurrences of the day have nothing to arouse his facul- 
ties. Tired of himself and of languid apathy, he wants some object 
to excite and agitate his passions. Gaming answers this purpose. 
Every thing is put to the decision of chance ; hope and fear succeed 
each other; and joy and rage, and pleasure and disappointment, ex- 
cite the strongest emotions of the soul. The danger of losing his 
whole stock, and even his liberty, relieves the savage from the op- 
pression under which he laboured. The deeper the play, the more 
his passions are alarmed ; and that inward conflict, that agitation of 
the mind, is the incentive that makes him delight in games of chance, 



& c. 98. GERM ANIA. 253 

cent, tanta lucrandi perdendive temeritate, lit, cum omnia 
defecerunt, extremo ac novissimo jactu de libertate et de 
corpore contendant. Victus voluntariam servitutem adit : 
quamvis juvenior, quamvis robustior, adligari se ac venire 
patitur : ea est in re prava pervicacia : ipsi fidem vocant 
Servos conditionis hujus per commercia tradunt, ut se quo- 
que pudore victoriae exsolvant. 

XXV. Ceteris servis, non in nostrum morem, descriptis 
per familiam ministeriis, utuntur. Suam quisque sedem, 
suos Penates regit. Frumenti modum dominus, aut peco- 
ris, aut vestis, ut colono, injungit: (p) et servus hactenus 
paret. Cetera domus officia uxor ac liberi exsequuntur* 
Verberare servum ac vinculis et opere coercere, rarum. 
Occidere solent, (q) non disciplina et severitate, sed inpetu 
et ira, ut inimicum, nisi quod inpune. Libertini (r) non 
multum supra servos sunt, raro aliquod momentum in domo, 
numquam in civitate ; exceptis duntaxat iis gentibus, quae 



Brotier quotes a remarkable passage from St. Ambrose, who gives a 
lively picture of a barbarous people engaged at play. The Huns, he 
says, a fierce and warlike race, are always subject to a set of usurers, 
who lend them what they want for the purposes of gaming. They 
live without laws, and yet obey the laws of dice. Et cum sine legi- 
bm vivant) aleoe, solius legibus obtdire. St. Ambrose adds, that when 
the unsuccessful gamester has lost his all, he sets his liberty, and even 
his life, upon a single cast, and is accounted infamous if he does not 
pay his debts of honour. 

p See in Tacitus (.Annals, b. xiv. s. 43,) an account of Pedanius 
Secundus, who had fourscore servants in his family, with specific 
names for their several departments. This was called his city esta- 
blishment, familia urbana. In the country the Romans had their 
rural slaves under different appellations. In Germany the slaves 
were prpedial servants, not indeed at liberty, but annexed to the soil, 
glebce, adscript i. Their condition, Brotier observes, was the same as 
that of the vassals, or serfs, who, a few centuries ago, were so numer- 
ous in every part of Europe. The German conquerors, in imitation 
of the Romans, had their real slaves, while those who remained in a 
state of rural vassalage were called Lidi. This distinction appears in 
the Salic Law, tit. xxx. See in Spelmen's Glossary, title Villanus* 
Villenage was a species of tenure manifestly derived from the Ger- 
mans. 

q A composition was paid for homicide ; but still, it seems, a man 
might kill his slave with impunity. The Salic law provided after- 
wards, that he who killed the slave of another, was obliged to pay a 
certain fine, and the expense of the suit. 

r The slave at Rome when manumitted, was called Libertus, and 
his descendants were Libertini. In process of time, when the Franfes, 

23* 



254 C\ CORN. TACITl. a. u. c. 851. 

regnantur. (s) Ibi enirn et super ingenuos et super no- 
biles ascendant : apud ceteros inpares libertini libertatis 
argumentum sunt, (tf) 

XXVI. Fenus agitare et in usuras extendere, (w) igno- 
tum ; ideoque magis ser^atur, quam si vetitum esset. Agri, 
pro numero cultorum, ab universis per vices (r) occupan- 



in their new possessions, became acquainted with money, the cere- 
mony of enfranchisement was performed by striking out of the slave's 
hand a denarius, and from that circumstance the freedman was call- 
ed Denariatus. Their rank, however, was little higher than that of 
a slave ; and by the Ripuarian law, tit. lvii. lex. 4, if a freedman 
died without issue, his fortune went to the public treasury. 

s As often as an opportunity offers, Tacitus has an eye to the man- 
ners of his own country. He glances, in this place, at Pallas, Nar- 
cissus, Icelus, and others of that description, who, under Claudius, 
Nero, and Galba, rose to the first eminence in the state. The ty- 
ranny of such men was a galling yoke to every liberal mind. Nerva, 
Trajan, and the Antonines, never transacted any kind of public bu- 
siness by the intervention of their freedmen. We are told that Adri- 
an, seeing one of his slaves walking with a familiar air, between two 
senators, ordered a person to go directly and give the impudent fellow 
a box on the face, with this monition, " Learn more respect for those 
to whom you may be transferred as a slave." Tacitus informs us, 
that Agricola never suffered his slaves nor freedmen to play the part 
of agents in the affairs of his administration. See Life of Agricola, s. 
19. It is observed by Montesquieu (Spirit of Laws, b. xv\ ch. 18,) 
that the freedmen under the emperors paid their court to the weak- 
nesses of their masters, and then taught them to reign by their vices, 
not their virtues. It is remarkable that the same abuse of power, 
that prevailed at Rome under the worst of the emperors, was also 
felt in those parts of G ermany, where monarchy and despotism were 
established. 

f We have here four distinct ranks •, the nobles, the men of in- 
genuous birth, the freedmen, and the slaves. In Gaul, according to 
Caesar, there were two principal orders of men, the druids and the 
nobles, the common people being little better than slaves. Book vi. 
s. 12. The Franks, in imitation of their German ancestors, had 
four classes of men ; their nobles, their ingenuous, their Lidi, and 
their slaves ; and this, Montesquieu observes, is clearly proved by the 
composition for offences proportioned to the different ranks of the se- 
veral complainants. Spirit of Laics, b. xxx. ch. 25. See Membires 
deVAcad. des Belles Letters, vol. xxxvii. p. 541. 

u The practice of laying out money at exorbitant interest, and ex- 
acting payment with harsh severity, was an ancient grievance at 
Rome, and a perpetual cause of clamour and sedition. Laws, it is 
true, were made at various times to suppress the mischief; but those 
laws were eluded, because, a3 Tacitus says, the public good gave 
fray to private emolument. See Annals, b. vi. s. 16. 

V The critics make it a question, whether it should be per vices or 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 255 

tur, quos mox inter se, secundum dignationem, partiuntur : 
facilitatem patiendi camporum spatia praestant. Arva per 
annos mutant : et superest ager : nee enim cum ubertate 
et amplitudine soli ' labore contendunt, ut pomaria conse- 
rant et prata separent et hortos rigent : sola terra? seges 
imperatur. Unde annum quoque ipsum non in totidem 
digerunt species : hiems et ver et aestas intellectum ac vo- 
cabula habent : autumni perinde nomen ac bona igno- 
rantur. (w) 

XXVII. Funerum nulla ambitio : (rr) id solum observa- 
tur, ut corpora clarorum virorum certis lignis crementur. 
Struem rogi nee vestibus, nee odoribus, cumulant : sua 



per vicos. But whether we understand* that the Germans cultivated 
the lands by turns, or removed to different places, the difference does 
not seem to be material. It is, however, ascertained by Caesar, that 
the magistrates portioned out yearly to every canton or family a 
quantity of land in what part of the country they thought proper, 
and in the next year removed to some other spot. Many reasons are 
assigned for this practice ; lest seduced by habit and continuance, 
they should learn to prefer tillage to war ; lest a desire of enlarging 
their possessions should prevail, and prompt the stronger to expel the 
weaker ; lest they should become curious in their buildings, in order 
to guard against the extremes of heat and cold ; lest avarice should 
get footing among them ; and, in fine, to preserve contentment and 
equanimity among the people, when they find their possessions noth- 
ing inferior to those of the most powerful. Dt Bell. GalL lib. 
vi. s. 21. 

w In the first ages of the world, the year was distinguished by two 
seasons only. Moses mentions seed-time and harvest, summer and 
winter. Genesis, ch. viii. In process of time, the exertions of in- 
dustry marked out other periods ; but all that the Germans wanted 
of the earth was corn and grain, and, the harvest being over, they 
had no fruits to expect in autumn. Brotier says, the Germans at 
this day have no distinct word in their language for the autumnal 
season. The term that satisfies them is Herbst, harvest. Beyond 
that period, the ancient Germans knew no productions of the earth, 
having neither orchards nor fruit-trees ; , and accordingly the Anglo- 
Saxon language has no name for autumn. That word in English was 
borrowed from the Latin. The fall of the leaf is a paraphrastical 
expression, denoting that season of the year by the decay of nature, 
not by the maturity of her fruits. 

x The simplicity of the Germans is placed by Tacitus, as often as 
the occasion permits, in direct contrast to Roman luxury and magni-. 
ficence. Pliny relates, that Caecilius Claudius Isidorus ordered for 
himself a pompous funeral, which cost a sum almost incredible. Book 
xxxii. And the same author says, that Arabia does not produce in a 
whole year the quantity of spice consumed by Nero at the funeral of 
Poppaea. Bookxii, The Romans borrowed their superfluous pomp 



256 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 851. 

cuique arma, quorundam igni et equus (y) adjicitur. Se- 
pulcrum cespes erigit. Monumentorum arduum et ope- 
rosum honorem, ut gravem defunctis, adspernantur. La- 
menta ac lacrimas cito, dolorem et tristitiam tarde, ponunt. 
Feminis lugere honestum est ; (z) viris meminisse. Haec 
in commune de omnium Germanorum origine ac moribus 
accepimus : nunc singalarum gentium instituta ritusque, 
quatenus differant, quae nationes e Germania in Gallias 
commigraverint, expediam. (a) 

XXVIII. Validiores olim Gallorum res fuisse, summus 
auctorurn D. Julius tradit : eoque credibile est, etiam Gal- 
los in Germaniam transgressos. Q,uantulum enim amnis 
obstabat, quo minus, ut quaeque gens evaluerat, oceuparet 
permutaretque sedes, promiscuas adhuc et nulla regnorum 
potentia divisas ? Igitur inter Hercyniam silvam (b) Rhe- 

from the eastern nations, and particularly from the Persians, who did 
not burn the dead bodies, but deposited them in sepulchres of superb 
structure, where they heaped an immense quantity of spices, and a 
profusion of rich ornaments. 

y The things which a German valued most were his arms and 
his horse. These were added to the funeral pile, with a persuasion 
that the deceased would have the same delight in his new state of 
existence. Hence the same custom in almost every quarter of the 
globe, particularly in the northern parts of Europe. It is true that 
Tacitus does not expressly tell us that the Germans believed in the 
immortality of the soul ; but in sec. 39, we find, that they had a con- 
ception of a Supreme God, the governor of the world ; regnator om- 
nium Deus,cmtera subjecta atque parentia. And since it is evident, 
that the Icelandic mythology attributed to the Deity infinite power, 
boundless knowledge, and incorruptible justice ; since it appears that 
they did not allow the Divinity to be represented under any corpo- 
real form, nor to be confined within the inclosure of walls ; and since 
they were taught to offer up their adoration in woods and consecrat- 
ed forests : it may be fairly inferred from that striking coincidence in 
the religious opinions of both nations, that the belief of a future state 
was part of the German creed. See Northern Antiquities, ch. v. 

s Sentiments of a similar kind occur in Seneca, and, perhaps, the 
distinguishing critic may trace some resemblance in the expres- 
sion. A year he says is allowed to female grief, not with intent that 
the whole time should be so employed, but that it should not be pro- 
tracte J longer. No time is prescribed to the men, because none is 
proper. Epist. 64. 

a We are now come to what may be called the second part of this 
treatise. The author has taken a survey of the general manners, and 
he now proceeds to give a distinct account of the several states that 
occupied the various divisions of the country. 

b The Hercynian Forest, according to Caesar's account, was about 
aine days' journey in breadth ; that being the only way of computing 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 257 

numque et Moenum amnes Helvetii, ulteriora Boii, (c) Gal- 
lica utraque gens, tenuere. Manet adhuc ' Boihemi' no- 
men, significatque loci veterem memonam, quamvis muta- 
tis cultoribus. Sed utrum Aravisci (d) in Pannoniam ab 
Osis, Germanorum natione, an Osi ab Araviscis in Germa- 
niam, commigraverint, cum eodem adhuc sermone, institu- 
tis, moribus utantur, incertum est : quia, pari olim inopia 
ac libertate, eadem utriusque ripae bona malaque erant. 
Treveri (e) et Nervii circa adfectationem Germanicae ori- 
ginis ultro ambitiosi sunt, tamquam, per hanc gloriam san- 
guinis, a similitudine et inertia Gallorum separentur. Ip- 
sam Rheni ripam haud dubie Germanorum populi colunt, 
Vangiones, Triboci, Nemetes. (/) Ne Ubii quidem, 

it, as the Germans were ignorant of the use of measures. It began 
from the confines of the Helvetians, the Nemetes, and Rauraci, and 
extending towards the Danube, reached the territory of the Dacians ; 
and, turning thence from th>? banks of the river, covered a vast tract 
ef coantry. Numbers travelled six days into this forest, yet no one 
pretended to have reached the farthest limit. Caesar De Bell. GalL 
lib. vi. s. 24. Pliny the elder, who had been in Germany, gives a de- 
scription of this prodigious forest, lib. xvi. s. 2. Gronovius and 
other commentators say, that the German word is Hirtsenwald, im- 
porting the forest of stags. The Romans softened the barbarous 
sound to their own idiom, by calling it Hercynia Silva. It is now 
cut down in many places, or parcelled out into woods, which g» by 
particular names, such as the Black Forest; La Foret de Harts. 
Some of the woods in Bohemia are supposed to be a remnant of the. 
Hercynian forest. 

c The Boians were originally a people of Gaul, bordering on the 
Helvetians, in the country now called the Bourbonnois. The time 
of their migration into Germanycannot be fixed with precision. Livy 
mentions a colony of Gauls sent into Germany in the reign of Tarqui- 
nius Priscus. He says, that Ambigatus, king of the Bituriges, who 
reigned over the Celtae, being the third part of Gaul, sent his sister's 
son, Sigovesus, into the Hercynian Forest, in order to discharge a re- 
dundant multitude from his own dominions, which at that time, were 
greatly over-peopled. Book v. s. 34. 

d Of these two nations little is now known. It is, however, proba- 
ble, that the Araviscians inhabited the Upper Hungary, and that the 
Osians occupied the eastern part of the country near the source of 
the Vistula. Tacitus doubts whether the latter were a German 
race, and, in sect. 43, he seems convinced, by their use of the Panno- 
nian language, and the acquiescence with which they submitted to 
pay a tribute, that they were adventitious settlers in Germany. 

e The Treverians inhabited what is now called the diocese of Tre- 
ves ; the territory of the Nervians was near Cambray. See more 
concerning the Nervians, Caesar's Comment, lib. ii. 

/ These three nations migrated from Germany into Gaul. The 



258 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851. 

quamquam Romana colonia esse meruerint, ac libentius 
1 Agrippinenses,' conditoris sui nomine, vocentur, origine 
erubescunt, transgressi olim et experiment*) fidei super ip- 
sam Rheni ripam conlocati, ut arcerent, non ut custodi- 
rentur. 

XXIX. Omnium harum gentium virtute praecipui Ba- 
tavi, (g) non multum ex ripa, sed insulam Rheni amnis, co- 
lunt, Cattorum quondam populus et seditione domesticain 
eas sedes transgressus, in quibus pars Romani imperii lie- 
rent. Manet honos et antiquae societatis insigne : nam 
nee tributis contemnuntur, nee publicanus adterit : exemp- 
ti oneribus et collationibus, et tantum in usum proeliorum 
sepositi, velut tela atque arma, bellis reservantur. Est in 
eodem obsequio et Mattiacorum gens, (h) Protulit enim 
magnitudo Populi Romani ultra Rhenum, ultraque veteres 
terminos, Imperii reverentiam. Ita sede finibusque in sua 
ripri, mente animoque nobiscum, agunt, cetera similes Ba- 
tavis, nisi quod ipso adhuc terrae suae solo et coslo acrius 
animantur. Non numeraverim inter Germanise populos, 

Vangiones, according to Brotier, occupied the diocese of Worms ; the 
Triboci, the diocesp. of Strasbourg ; the Nemetes the diocese of Spire. 
Though originally Germans, they were all settled in Gaul be- 
fore Caesar carried his victorious arms through every part of the 
country. 

g The Batavians are often celebrated by Tacitus for their bravery, 
their skill in swimming across rivers, and their faithful attachment to 
the interest of Rome. In the second book of the Annals,*. 10, we 
find them fighting under Germanicus. In the fourth book of the his- 
tory, they are said to be originally of the Cattian nation. Driven out 
by their countrymen, thev occupied a marshy island, formed by the 
German Ocean and two branches of the Rhine. They adhered with 
unshaken constancy to the Romans. They served in Britain as aux- 
iliaries, and in Italy under Vitellius. Inflamed at length by the tur- 
bulent spirit of Civilis, they threw off the yoke, and, having stormed 
the Roman encampments, obliged the legions to lay down their arms, 
and even to swear fidelity to the empire of the Gauls. See the ac- 
count of this war in the fourth and fifth books of the History. The 
Batavian island is said in the Annals, b. ii. s. 6, to be formed by two 
branches of the Rhine ; one running in a direct course, and with a 
rapid current, till it empties itself into the German Ocean; the other 
more gentle, falling into the Vahal (now the Waal,) and thence 
through the broad mouth of the Mosa (the Meuse,) into the Ocean. 

h The Mattiaci inhabited lands between the Rhine and the Visur- 
gis (the Weser.) Their country was partly in Weteravie and part- 
ly in Hesse. Brotier says, Mattium, their capital, is now called 
Marpurg, and that the fountains (Fontes Mattiaci) are known by the 
name of Wis-baden, near MeRtz, 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 269 

quamquam trans Rhenum Danubiumque consederint, eos ? 
qui Decumates (i) agros exercent. Levissimus quisque 
Gallorum, et inopia audax, dubiab possessionis solum occu- 
pavere. Mox limite acto, promotisque prsesidiis, sinus 
Imperii et pars provincial habentur. 

XXX. Ultra hos Catti (j) initium sedis ab Hercynio 
saltu inchoant, non ita eflfusis ac palustribus locis ut ceterse 
civitates, in quas Germania patescit : durant siquidem 
colles, paullatimque rarescunt : et Cattos suos saltus Her- 
cynius prosequitur simul atque deponit. Duriora genti 
corpora, stricti artus, minax vultus et major animi vi- 
gor, (k) Muitum (ut inter Germanos) rationis ac soler- 
tiae : praeponere electos, audire prsepositos, nosse or- 
dines, intelligere occasiones, differre inpetus, dis- 
ponere diem, vallare noctem, fortunam inter dubia, vir- 

i The country where the deeumate lands were situated is now call- 
ed'Suabia. During Caesar's wars in Gaul, the xMarcomanni were in 
possession. In the time of Augustus, Maroboduus, their king, a 
brave, politic, and ambitious prince, saw that the Rhine was not a 
sufficient barrier between him and the Roman arms. He resolved 
to seek a new habitation in a more remote part 01 the country. Mi- 
grations in Germany were attended with little difficulty. They had 
neither fortiiied towns, nor houses strongly built, and all their weakh 
consisted in herds of cattle. Maroboduus, at the head of the Mar- 
comanni, marched into Bohemia, and expelled the Boians. Suabia 
being thus evacuated, the neighbouring Gauls were invited by the 
fertility of the soil. A band of adventurers, supposed to be the Se- 
quani, the Rauraci, and Helvetii, took possession of the vacant lands ; 
and, being subjects of the empire, they continued to own their former 
masters, and, a3 was necessary in their new situation, to crave the 
protection of Rome. The Romans, in return, demanded a tenth of 
the product of the lands. Hence they were called dtcamnles. 

j The territory of the Catti is said by the commentators to have 
been between the Rhine, the Mayne, the River Sala, and part of the 
Hercynian Forest near the Weser, now the countries of Hesse, Thu- 
ringia, part of Paderborn, and Franconia. Brotier says, that what 
Caesar, Florus, and Ptolemy have remarked of the Suevi, should al- 
ways be understood of the Catti. Leibnitz supposes that the people 
were called Catti, from some resemblance in point of agility to a cat, 
the German word for that animal being Catte. 

k Brotier quotes a passage from Vegetius, in which that author 
gives a lively description of the form and structure of body proper for 
a soldier. Let the youth intended for a martial life have a quick 
piercing eye, a neck firm and erect, an open chest, broad and muscu- 
lar shoulders, strong fingers, a length of arm, the belly not too pro- 
minent , legs well shaped, without superfluous flesh either on the calf 
or the foot, well braced with nard and close compacted sinews. Ve- 
getittis, lib. i. cap, 6. 



260 C. CORN. TACITI. a. it. c. 851. 

tutem inter certa numerare : quodque rarissimum, nee 
nisi ratione disciplinae concessum, plus reponere in 
Duce, (/) quatn in exercitu. Oinne robur in pedite, quern, 
super arma, ferramentis quoque et copiis onerant. Alios 
ad proelium ire videas, Cattos ad bellum : rari excursus et 
fortuita pugna. Equestrium sane virium id proprium, cito 
parare victoriam, cito cedere. Velocitas juxta formidi- 
nem, cunctatio propior constantise est. 

XXXL Et aliis Germanorum popuiis usurpatum rara et 
privata cujusque audentia, apud Cattos in consensum vertit, 
ut primum adoleverint ; ennem barbamque subrnittere, 
nee, nisi hoste caeso, exuere votivum obhgatumque virtuti 
oris habitum. (in) Super sanguinem et spolia revelant 

I This was an improvement in military discipline beyond the 
rest of the Germans. In the Roman armies the general was the main 
strength ; and accordingly Livy says, it was evident that the republic 
succeeded more by her general omcers than by the armies of the com- 
monwealth. Ut facile appareret ducibus validiortm quam exercitu 
rem Romanam esse. Livy, lib. ii. Florus expresses a similar thought 
with his usual brevity ; Tanti exercttus, quanti imptrator. Lib. ii. 
cap. 18. The value of an army is in proportion to the skill of the ge- 
neral. Quintilian agrees with the two historians ; he says, If we 
make a fair estimate, it is by military discipline that the Roman name 
has nourished to this day with undiminished lustre. We do not 
abound in numbers more than other nations ; nor are our bodies more 
robust than the Cimbrians. We are not richer than many powerful 
monarchies ; our contempt of death does not exceed that of the bar- 
barians, who have no allurement to make them fond of life. What 
gives us the advantage over other nations, is the military system es- 
tablished by the institutions of our a cestors ; our attention to disci- 
pline ; our love of labour, and our constant preparation for war, assi- 
duously kept alive by unremitting exercise. We conquer more by 
o. r manners, than by force of arms. Quintilian, Pro JWilite, Declam. 
iii. s. 14. 

m Vows of this kind occur in the history of various nations. In 
the days of chivalry the same custom prevailed, and manifestly owed 
its origin to the practice of the Germans, who overran all Europe. 
He who undertook a bold enterprise, or thirsted tor revenge, made a 
vow never to sleei> in a bed, or take off his clothes day or night, till 
he had executed hi3 grand design. Upon this principle Civilis, the 
Batavian chief, curtails his hair and beard as soon as he had perform- 
ed his promise See Tacitus, Hislo* 3/, b. iv. s 51. Lipsius, in his 
note on that passage, mentions from the History of the Langobards, 
six thousand Saxons, who survived the slaughter of their countrymen, 
and bound themselves by a solemn vow, neither to shave their beard* 
nor cut their hair, till they had revenged themselves on the Suevian 
nation. Brotier relates the same fact from Warnefrid's History of the 
Lombards, b. iii.^h. 7. This practice of encouraging the growth of 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 261 

frontem, seque 4 turn demum pretia nascendi retulisse, 
* dignosque patria ac parentibus' ferunt. Ignavis et inbel- 
Jibus manet squalor. Fortissimus quisque ferreum insu- 
per annulum (ignominiosum id genti) velut vinculum (n) 
ge.stat, donee se caede hostis absolvat. Plurimis Cattorum 
hie placet habitus. J am que canent insignes, et hostibus 
simul suisque monstrati : omnium penes hos initia pugna- 
rum : haec prima semper acies, visu torva. Nam ne in 
pace quidem vultu mitiore mansuescunt. Nulli domus, 
aut ager, autaliqua cura : prout ad quemque venere, alun- 
tur : prodigi alieni, contemptores sui : donee exsanguis se- 
nectus tarn durge virtuti inpares faciat. 

XXXII. Proximi Cattis certum jam alveo Rhenum, qui- 
que terminus esse sufficiat, Usipii (o) ac Tencteri colunt. 
Tencteri, super solitum beliorum decus, equestris discipli- 
nae arte pra3cellunt. Nee major apud Cattos peditum laus, 
quam Tencteris equitum. Sic instituere majores, posteri 
imitantur. Hi lusus infantium, haec juvenum aemulatio, 

the hair was known to Silius Italicus ; and accordingly, that poet 
mentions, among the slain in one of his battles, a Gaul, who had 
bdind himself by a similar vow, never to be shorn till he returned 
victorious from the field of battle. Bell. Punic, lib. iv. v. 200. 

7i This custom of voluntarily putting on a badge of slavery, was 
observed by the descendants of the Germans in various parts of Eu- 
rope, and in the times of chivalry, seems to have grown into gene* 
ral use. It was then a mark of amorous gallantry. In the year 1414, 
John, Duke of Bourbon, to distinguish himself in th« service of his 
mistress, associated himself with sixteen knights and 'squires, who 
all joined him in a vow, by which they obliged themselves to wear a 
ring round their left legs on every Sunday for two years ; that of the 
knights to be gold, and that of the gentlemen silver. And this they 
were to perform till it should be their lot to meet with an equal num- 
ber of knights and 'squires to engage with them in the tournament. 
Vertot, Memoires de VAead, dts Belles Lettres, vol. ii. p. 595. 

o The Usipii are supposed to have occupied the duchy of Cleves, 
and part of the bishoprick of Munster, Caesar calh them Usipetes ; 
and they, he says, with the Tenctheri, were driven by the Suevians 
from their territories ; and, having wandered over many regions of 
Germany during a space of three years, they settled at last on the 
banks of the Rhine, near the Menapians, who had lands on both sides 
of the river. Caesar, b. iv. s. 1. Afterwards, in the reign of Augus- 
tus, when the Sicambri were transplanted to the west side of the 
Rhine by Tiberius, who commanded the legions in those parts, the 
Usipians and Tencterians succeeded to the lands left vacant in Ger- 
many ; supposed now to be the duchy of Berg, and Mark, Lipp, Wal- 
deck, and the bishoprick of Paderborn. In the History of Tacitus* 
b, iv. s. 64, we see them acting with Civilis against the Romans. 

24 



262 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 861, 

perseverant senes : inter familiam et Penates etjurasuc- 
cessionum equi traduntur : excipit tilius, non, ut cetera, 
maxirnus natu, sed prout ferox belio et melior. 

XXXIII. Juxta Tencteros Bructeri (p) olim occurre- 
bant : nunc Chamavos (y) et Angrivarios inmigrasse narra- 

p The Bructerians dwelt between the Rhine, the Luppia (the Lip- 
pe,) and iVmisia (the Ems.) The country is now supposed to be 
Westphalia, and Over-Issel. They entered into an alliance with Ci- 
vilis, the Batavian chief; and, having in the course of that war in- 
curred the hatred of their countrymen, they were at length exter- 
minated. It is observable, however, that Tacitus does not state the 
ruin of this people as a positive fact. He mentions it as a report. 
That they were still a people appears in a letter of Pliny, who wrote 
in the time of Trajan. The emperor, he tells us, decreed a trium- 
phal statue to Vestritius Spurinna, who, without the necessity of 
coming to an engagement, humbled the Bructerians by the terror of 
his name. The barbarians had experienced his courage and his con- 
duct, and therefore not only received their king from h m, but quiet- 
ly submitted to their former government. Pliny, lib. ii. epist. 7. It 
is probable, therefore, that Tacitus was misinformed. 

q The Chamavians occupied a territory near the banks of the 
Amisia, (the Ems) supposed to be Lingen and Osnaburg. The An- 
grivarians bordered on the Visurgis, (the Weser) where at present 
are Minden and Shawenburg. r J hey were also called Angrarii ; a 
word which, Gronovius observes, according to the German etymolo- 
gy, signifies aggressors. Brotier says, they were afterwards a part of 
the Saxon nation ; and, for proof of this, he refers to the code of Sax- 
on laws. The same writer adds, that the battle which, in conjunc- 
tion with the Angrivarians, they fought against the Bructerians, was 
decided on a plain near the canal of Drusus, (see s. xxix note a) and 
the account of that prodigious slaughter arrived at Rome in the first 
year of the emperor Trajan. Tacitus on this occasion seems to exult 
in the destruction of the human species. " Above sixty thousand of 
the Germans," he says, " lay dead on the field of battle ; a glorious 
spectacle for the legions, who beheld that scene of bloi d." The am- 
bition of the Romans aiming always at universal dominion, it was 
part of their policy to give the name of barbarians to the nations that 
did not tamely submit to their victorious arms. The combats of 
their gladiators inured them to blood and carnage from their very 
infancy-; and, by consequence, they considered the race of men as so 
many victims, who were to bleed for the ambition of a people who 
aspired to be the governors of the world. To conquer the proud 
(debellare superbos) was a state maxim, and moral virtue gave way to 
fierce ambition. There is a passage in Livy not unlike what is said 
by Tacitus, but not delivered with the same harshness of expression. 
A contention, he says, arose between the Volsei and the iEqui, each 
claiming a right to name a commander in chief for their confederate 
army. A violent sedition followed, and the consequence was a bloody 
engagement, in which the good fortune of the Roman people destroy- 
ed two armies of the enemy. Livy, lib. ii. 40, r 



j. c. 93. GERMANIA. 263 

tur, pulsis Bructeris ac penitus excisis, vicinarum consensu 
nationum : seu superbiae odio, seu praedae dulcedine, seu 
favore quodam erga nos Deorum : nam ne spectaculo qui- 
demproelii invidere, super LX. millia, non armis telisque 
Romanis, sed, quod magninxentius est, oblectationi oculis- 
que ceciderunt. Maneat, quaeso, duretquegentibus, si non 
amor nostri, at certe odium sui : quando, urgentibus Impe- 
rii fatis, nihil jam praestare fortuna majus potest, quam bos- 
tium discordiam. 

XXXIV. Angrivarios et Chamavos, a tergo Dulgibini et 
Chasuari (r) cludunt aliasqne gentes, haud perinde memo- 
ratae. A fronte Frisii excipiunt. i Majoribus minoribus- 
' que FrishY (s) vocabulum est ex modo virium : utraeque 
nationes usque ad Oceanum Ptheno praetexuntur, ambiunt- 
que inmensos insuper lacus (t) et Romanis classibus navi- 

r It is difficult to fix the residence of these two nations. The com- 
mentators seem disposed to assign them the country near the head of 
the river Lippe, and thence it is thought that they removed to the 
lands evacuated by the Angrivarians and Cham avians, when they ex- 
pelled the Bructerian nation. They seem to have been the same with 
those whom Velleius Paterculus calls the Attuarii : see Paterc. lib. ii. 
s. 105. They were afterwards part of the Francic league. The 
nations of inferior note, said by Tacitus to have dwelt in the neigh- 
bourhood, are supposed by Brotier to have been the Ansiberii and 
Tubantes. The former he thinks should rather be called Amsibarii, 
from their vicinity to the river Amisia. 

s The Flevus, in the time of the Romans, was a great lake. Ger- 
uianicus entered it through the artificial branch of the Rhine made 
by Drusus. Annals, b. ii. s. 3. It has been since enlarged by irrup- 
tions of the sea, and is now the great gulf called Zuyder-Zee. The 
Lesser Frisians were settled on the south-west side of the bay, occu- 
pying the whole or part of Holland and Utrecht. The Greater Fri- 
sians were on the north-east of the lake or gulf, in the territory now 
called Groningen, extending themselves along the sea-coast as far a? 
the river Amisia (now the Ems.) The name of the Frisians seems 
to be preserved in that of Friesland, the most northern of the United 
Provinces. „ 

t One of the inundations which changed the lake into a gulf of the 
~ea, happened so late as the year 1530, and swallowed up seventy- 
two villages. Another happened in the year 1569, and overwhelm- 
ed the coast ©f Holland, and laid all Friesland under water. In that 
tlood no less than 20,000 persons lost their lives. Where the pillars 
of Hercules stood, cannot now be known with certainty. The ex- 
treme point of land, where nothing but the open sea lay beyond it, 
was in ancient times said to be the spot on which the pillars of Her- 
cules were erected. Some of the commentators contend that the 
spot intended by Tacitus was on the coast of the Frisians ; others will 
have it to be the poiat of the Cimbrian Chtrtonesus. now Jutland, 



264 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u.c.851. 

gatos. Ipsum quin etiam Oceanum illatentavimus : et su- 
peresse adhuc Herculis columnas fama vulgavit : sive adiit 
Hercules, seu, quidquid ubique magnificum est, in clarita- 
tem ejus referre consensimus. Nee defuit audentia Druso 
Germanico : sed obstitit Oceanus in se simul alque in Her- 
culem inquiri. Mox nemo tentavit : sanctiusque ac reve- 
rentius visum, de actis Deorum credere, quam scire, (u) 

XXXV. Hactenus in Occidentem Germaniam novimus. 
In Septemtrionem ingenti flexu redit. Ac primo statim 
Chaucorum gens, (v) quamquam incipiat a Frisiis, ac par- 
tem litoris occupet, omnium, quas exposui, gentmm lateri- 
bus obtenditur, donee in Cattos usque sinuetur. Tarn in- 
mensum terrarum spatium non tenent tantum Chauci, sed 
et inplent : populus inter Germanos nobilissimus, quique 
magnitudinem suam malit justitia tueri : sine cupiditate, 
sine inpotentia, quieti secretique, nulla provocant bella* 
nullis raptibus aut latrociniis populantur. Idque praecipu- 
um virtutis ac virium argumentum est, quod, ut superiores 
agant> non per injurias adsequuntur. Prompta tamen om- 



u Tacitus, perhaps, alluded to the precept of the philosopher, who 
said, " Worship God, ; believe in him, but do not presume to investi- 
gate his nature :" Deum cole, atque crede, sed noli qitcercre. The an- 
cients, says La Bletterie, thought it presumptuous to inquire too far 
into the mysteries of nature ; and the moderns do not spare the rays** 
teries of religion. 

v The territory of the Chaucians extended from the Ems (Amisia) 
to the Elbe, (A Ibis) and the German Ocean washed the northern 
extremity. The nation was distinguished into the Greater and the 
Lesser, divided from each other by the Visurgis (the Weser) . The 
former dwelt (as appears in Annals, b.ii. s. 18 and 19) between the 
Ems and the Weser; the latter on the northeast side of the Weser, 
between that river and the Elbe. Piiny, in his Natural History, has 
represented the maritime inhabitants in lively colours. He says, he 
himself had seen the Greater and the Lesser Chaucians, living in a 
vast level country, which is overflowed twice in the day and night 
by the reflux of the tide, and leaves a perpetual doubt whether it is 
sea or land. Piiny adds, that the wretched inhabitants live on the 
ridge of hills, or in mud eottages, raised above high water mark, 
having no cattle, no milk, and no fruits of the earth. Fish is their 
only sustenance, and they catch it with lines made of flags and sea- 
weed. Their fuel is the common mud, taken up with their hands, 
and dried rather by the wind thr»n the sun. With fire made of 
this kind of peat, they warm their food and their bodies almost fro- 
zen. The rain-water, collected in ditches around their huts, is their 
only drink. Pliny, lib, xvL 3, 1 , 



j. c. 98. GERMAN1A. 265 

nibus arma, (w) ac si res poscat, exercitus ; plurimum vi* 
rorum equorumque : et quiescentibus eadem fama. 

XXX\ r J. In latere Chaucorum Cattorumque Cherus- 
ci (x) nimiam ac marcentem diu pacem inlacessiti nutrie- 
runt : idque jucundius, quam tutius, fuit : quia inter inpo- 
tentes et validos falso quiescas ; ubi manu agitur, modestia 
ac probitas nomina superioris sunt. Ita, qui olim ■ boni 
1 aequique Cherusci,' nunc ' inertes ac stulti' vocantur : 
Cattis victoribus fortuna in sapientiam cessit. Tracti rui- 
na Cheruscorum et Fosi, (?/) contermina gens, adversarum 
rerum ex aequo socii, cum in secundis minores fuissent. 

XXXVII. Eundera Germaniae sinum proximi Oceano 
Cimbn (z) tenent, parva nunc civitas, sed gloria ingens : 

v: The Chaucians, with their love of justice and moderation, still 
retained their warlike spirit. To prevent their incursions, the Ro- 
mans found it convenient to station garrisons at proper posts. 

x The territory of the Cheruscans began near the Weser (Visur- 
gis;. and extended to the Elbe, through the countries now called 
Lunebourg, Brunswick, and part of Brandenbourg. Arminius, their 
chief, made head against the Romans with distinguished bravery, 
and performed a number of gallant exploits, as related by Tacitus in 
the first and second book of the Annals. He was at last cut off by 
the treachery of his countrymen, and his character is given in lirely 
colours in the last section of the second book Varus and his legions 
were destroyed by the zeal and violent spirit of Arminius, as appears 
m the speech of Segestes, Annals, b. i. s. 58. The long peace, in 
which the vigour of this people sunk into sloth and indolence, was, 
perhaps, occasioned by the death of Arminius ; or it might be from 
the time when Germanic us was recalled by Tiberius, and sent to 
oommand the legions in the east. In the time of Augustus, they oc- 
cupied a large tract of country on the west side of the Weser, as ap- 
pears in the accounts given by Velleius Paterculus of Drusus, and his 
wars in Germany. 

y This is the only place in which Tacitus makes mention of the 
Fosi. Cluverius and others suppose that they were the same as the 
ancient Saxons. But this opinion does not seem to be well support- 
ed. According to Ptolemy, the Saxons inhabited the country of Hol- 
stein at the entrance of the Cimbrian Chersonesus, or Jutland. The 
name of the Saxons could not be mentioned by Tacitus; it was not 
known till long after his time, in the reign of Antoninus Pius, when 
in conjunction with the Angles, they issued from their hive, and af- 
terwards became masters of Britain. The Fosi were a different 
people. They bordered on the Cheruscans near the Elbe ; and, 
since we find them involved in one common calamity, they were, 
perhaps, subordinate to that nation. 

z The Cimbri inhabited the peninsula, which, after their name, 
was called the Cimbric Chersonesus, and is now Jutland, including 
Sleswick and Holstein. 

24 * 



26C C. CORN. TAClTi. a. u. c. 851. 

veterisque famae lata vestigia manent, utraque ripa castra 
ac spatia, quorum ambitu nunc quoque metiaris molem ma^ 
nusque gentis, et tanrmagni exitus fidem. Sexcentesimum 
et quadragesimum annum nrbs nostra agebat, cum primum 
Cimbrorum audita sunt arma, Csecilio Metello ac Papirio 
Carbone Coss. Ex quo si ad alterum Imperatoris Trajafti 
Consulatum computemus, ducenti ferme et decern anni 
conliguntur. Tamdiu Germania vincitur. Medio tarn 
longi aevi spatio, multa invicem damna : non Samnis, non 
Poeni, non Hispaniae Galliaeve, ne Parthi quidem saepius 
admonuere : quippe Regno Arsacis acrior est Germanorum 
libertas. Quid enim aliud nobis, quam caedem Crassi, (a) 
amisso etipso Pacoro, infra Ventidium dejectus Oriens ob» 
jecerit ? At Gerraani Carbone et Cassio et Scauro Aure- 
lio (b) et Servilio Caepione 3 Cn. quoque Manlio fusis, vel 



a The slaughter of CrassUs and his army is well known : but in 
revenge, Pacorus, son of Orodes, the Parthian king, was put to death, 
and the kingdom was reduced to a lower condition than even that of 
Ventidius, who gained a complete victory. Tacitus says, infra Ken* 
tidlum dejectus orient, alluding to the meanness of that officer's first 
emplovment ; he let out mules for hire, and was afterwards raised to 
the consulship by Antony the triumvir. 

The victory obtained by this man, (see Florus, lib. iv. s. 9) places 
the weakness of the Parthians in a clear point of view. But the loss 
of so many Roman consuls, with their annie*-, shows the warlike gen* 
ius of the Germans. Carbo was consul A. U. C. 640, and was routed 
by the Cimbrians with his whole army. Livy, Epitome lxiii. Lu- 
cius Cassius was consul A. U.C.647. He himself was slain in bat- 
tle, and his whole army passed under the yoke. Caesar, b. i. s. 12. 
See Livy, Epitome lxv 

b Marcus Scaur us Aurelius gave battle to the Cimbrians, and his 
army was put to flight He himself was taken prisoner. Being 
summoned to a consultation held by the enemy, he advised them not 
to think of passing the Alps, because the Romans were invincible. 
For that offence Boiorix, a young man of great ferocity, killed him 
on the spot. Livy, Ep t IxviL Servilius Csepio, proconsul, and 
Cneius Manilas, consul, were both defeated, and their camps were 
pillaged by the Cimbrians. Livy, Epit. lxvii. Florns, lib. hi. s. 3. 
Velleius Paterculus, lib. ii. s. 12. This last defeat happened A. U.C. 
649, and, according to Plutarch, in the life of Lucullus, the anniver- 
sary was reckoned among the unlucky days. In order to do justice to 
the mart al ardour of the Germans, Tacitus takes care to observe 
that these disasters happened in the best days of Rome, that is, in 
the time of the republic Qainque simul contulares exercilus popu- 
x,o Ro>t*jvo abstulerunt. He adds, that Augustus the emperer lost 
Varus and his three legions. The calamity made such an impression 
on the mind of Augustus, that, as Suetonius relates, he let his hair 



J. c. 98. GERMANIA. 267 

captis, quinque simul Considares exercitus Populo Roma- 
no, Varum, tresque cum eolegiones, etiam Csesari abstule- 
runt : nee inpune C. Marius in Italia, D. Julius in Gallia, 
Drusus ac Nero Germanicus in suis eos sedibus percule- 
runt. Mox ingentes C. Caesaris minae in ludibrium versae* 
lnde otium, donee occasione discordiae nostrae et civilium 
armorum, expugnatis legionum hibernis, (c) etiam Gallias 
adfectavere : ac rursus pulsi inde, proximis temporibus 
triumphati magis quam victi sunt. 

XXXVIII Nunc de Suevis (d) dicendum est, quorum 
non una, ut Cattorum. Tencterorumve, gens : majorem 
enim Germaniae partem obtinent, propriis adhuc nationibus 
nominibusque discreti, quamquam in commune ' Suevi' vo- 
centur. Insigne gentis obliquare crinem nodoque sub- 



and beard grow for several months, at times striking his head against 
the wall, and exclaiming, " Quintilius Varus, give me back my le- 
gions." Sueton. in Augustos, s. 23. See the fine description of Ger- 
manicus and his army traversing the field where the bones of their 
slaughtered countrymen lay unburied. Annals, b i. s. 61. 

c During the troubles that followed the death of Nero, and the 
wars between Otho, Vitellius. and Vespasian, Claudius Civilis, the 
Batavian chief, took the field at the head of a confederate army, un- 
der a plausible pretence of promoting the interest of Vespasian, but, 
in fact, to deliver his country and the Gauls from the Roman yoke* 
He called himself the friend of Vespasian, while he stormed the Ro- 
man camps, and obliged the legions to surrenderto his victorious arms. 
He drew many of the German nations into a conspiracy ; and, acting on 
every occasion with consummate policy, he appears to have learned in 
the school of the Romans the art of contending with his masters. He 
was at length abandoned by the Germans, and, by consequence, re- 
duced to the necessity of patching up a peace with Cerealis, the Ro- 
man general. An imperfect account of this transaction may be seen 
in what remains of the fifth book of the History, which has suffered 
by the injury of time. 

d The territory occupied by the Suevians was of vast extent, 
stretching southward from the Baltic to the Danube, and eastward 
from the Elbe to the Vistula, which was the boundary that separated 
Germany from Sarmatia. Several nations inhabited that vast tract 
of country. They formed a confederation with the Suevians, and, 
being so connected, were called by one general apellation. Some 
distinct states were subject to the Suevians, and thence derived the 
name of Suevians. The new leasee that was afterwards established 
took the title of Alamanni (see this tract, s. xxix. note (c.) The 
two names have been promiscuously used by historians to signify the 
Suevi or the Alamanni ; and hence the country, which, after the de- 
struction of the wall erected by the emperor Probus, became the 
theatre ef war, was alternately called Alamannia and Suabia, 



268 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851, 

stringere. (c) Sic Suevii a ceteris Germanis, sic Suevorum 
ingenui a servis, separantur. In aliis gentibus, seu cogna- 
tione aliqua Suevorum, seu (quod saepe accidit) imitatione 
rarum, et intra juventae spatium ; apud Suevos usque ad 
canitiem, horrentem capillum retro sequuntur, ac saepe in 
solo vertice religant. Principes et ornatiorem habent : 
ea cura formae, sed innoxia. Neque enim ut anient amen- 
turve ; in altitudinem quandam et terrorem, adituri bella, 
compti, ut hostium oculis, ornantur. 

XXXIX. * Vetustissimos se nobilissimosque Suevorum* 
Semnones (/) memorant. Fides antiquitatis religione firma- 
tur. Stato tempore in silvam, auguriis patrum et prisca for- 
midine sacram, omnes ejusdem sanguinis populi legationibus 
coeunt, caesoque publice homine celebrant barbari ritus 
horrenda primordia. Est et alia luco reverentia. Nemo 
nisi vinculo ligatus ingreditur, ut minor, et potestatem Nu- 
minis prae se ferens : si forte prolapsus est, adtolli et in- 
surgere haud licitum : per humum evolvuntur : eoque 
omnis superstitio respicit, tamquam inde initia gentis, ibi 
regnator omnium Deus, (g) cetera subjecta atque paren- 
tia. Adjicit auctoritatem fortuna Semnonum, centum pa- 



c It should seem, from what is here said, that the rest of the Ger- 
mans let their hair flow loosely about their heads and shoulders. Se- 
neca mentions the ruddy hair of the Germans gathered into a knot ; 
but he does not call it a general custom : he only says it was not 
deemed unmanly. Seneca, De La, lib. iii. cap. 26. 

/ The Semnones occupied both banks of the Viadrus (now the 
Oder,) with part of Pon e ania, Brandenbourg, and also of Silesia 

g The belief of a Supreme God, the governor of the universe, has 
been from the earliest time common to all nations, however rude and 
barbarous. It is well known to have been the persuasion of the Scy- 
thians, from whom the Germans derived their origin ; and it is also 
known that the Scythians offered human sacrifices. Accordingly we 
find the Semnones addicted to the same barbarous rites. The old 
treatise of Icelandic mythology, entitled the Edda, shows that the 
Scandinavians believed in a Supreme Deity, " the author of every 
thing that exists ; the eternal, the ancient, the living and awful Be- 
ing ; the searcher into concealed things, the Being that never cba»i-g- 
eth." See Mallet's Northern Ant quities, vol. i p. 78. This con- 
curring opinion of all mankind is observed by Cicero, who says, there 
never was a people so rude, so savage, and so sunk in ignorance, as 
not to be impressed with the idea of a supreme all-ruling mind. The 
conceptions of men are, indeed, gross and extravagant ; but still all 
acknowledge a superior Being, and a divinity that stirs within them. 
Tuscai Question, lib. i. s. 13. 



j. c. 98. GERMANIA. 269 

gis habitantium : magnoque corpore efficitur, ut se Suevo- 
rum caput credant. 

XL. Contra Langobardos (h) paucitas nobilitat : pluri- 
mis ac valentissimis nationibus cincti, non per obsequium, 
seel proeliis et periclitanclo tuti sunt. Reudigni (i) deinde 
et Aviones et Angli et Varini et Eudoses et Suar>lones et 
Nuithones fluminibus aut silvis muniuntur : nee quiciqnam 
notabile in singulis, nisi quod in commune Herthum (j) id 



h The Langobards are supposed in the time of Augustus, to have 
inhabited the country now called Lunenbourg and Magdebourg, on 
the west side of the Elbe. Velleius Paterculus says, they were sub- 
dued by Tiberius, when he commanded in Germany, and that they 
were a people that exceeded even German ferocity. Veil Pat. lib. 
ii. cap. 106. It is evident, however, that they afterwards recovered 
their strength, since we find the dominion of the Langobards flourish- 
ing in Italy, till in the year 784, they were totally subdued by Char- 
lemagne. Their code of laws is preserved by Lindenbrogius. Taci- 
tus has made no mention of the Burgundians, perhaps because they 
were in his time of little or no consideration ; though at the end of 
several centuries they were able to make an irruption into Gaul, 
where they possessed the country, which, after them, is to this day call- 
ed the province of Burgundy. The Burgundian laws are still ex- 
tant. 

i With regard to the seven nations here enumerated, there are no 
lights of history to guide u c at this distant period. Brotier supposes 
that the Rudignians dwelt in what is now called Mecklenbourg and 
Lawenbourg The Aviones, he thinks, were situated in a portion of 
the duchy of Mecklenbourg, near a river, which, after their name, is 
called Ava by the inhabitants. The Varinians are generally thought 
to have occupied the eastern part of Mecklenbourg, where the city of 
Waren stands at present. The Eudosians, the Nuithones, and Suar- 
don ; ans are almost lost in the mists of antiquity. The Angles are 
better known. They occupied part of Holstein and Sleswick. In 
the fifth century they joined the Saxons in their expedition to Bri- 
tain, and, by giving the name of England to the southern part of the 
island, immortalized the glory of their nation. 

j As Tacitus is here speaking of the adoration paid to a goddess by 
the several nations whose names have been enumerated, it is not pro- 
bable that, in latinizing a barbarous word, he should give it a mascu- 
line termination. The text says, Herthum, id est, Terram Matrem 
colunt. So, it seems, the word stands in all the manuscripts ; and 
yet, it may be presumed, that the author wrote Hertham. The 
name in all the northern languages signifies earth ; in the ancient 
Gothic, a irtha ; in the Anglo-Savon, eorthe, ertha, hertha ; in Eng- 
lish, earth. See Northern Antiquities, vol. p. 92. The worship of 
Mother Earth has been common in all unenlightened nations. We 
read in a Latin historian, that a tremor of the earth bein^ felt when 
iwo armies were in the heat of battle, Sempronius, the Roman gerse- 



270 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 851* 

est, Terram matrem, colunt, eamque intervenire rebus 
hominum, invehi populis, arbitrantur. Est in insula Ocea- 
ni castum nemus, dicatumque in eo vehiculum, veste con- 
tectum : adtingere uni Sacerdoti concessum. Is adesse 
p<inetrali Deam intelligit, vectamque bubus feminis multa 
cum veneratione prosequitur. Lasti tunc dies, festa loca, 
quaecunque adventu hospitioque dignatur. Non bella ine- 
unt, non arma sumunt ; clausum omne ferrum : pax et 
quies tunc tantum nota, tunc tantum amata, donee idem 
Sacerdos satiatam conversatione mortalium Deam templo 
redd it : mox vehiculum et vestes, et, si credere velis, Nu- 
men ipsum secretolacu abluitur. Servi ministrant ; quos 
staii m idem lacus haurit. Arcanus hinc terror sanctaque 
ignorantia, quid sit illud, quod tantum perituri vident. 

XLI. Et haec quidem pars Suevorum in secretiora Ger- 
manise porrigitur. (k) Propior (ut, quo modo paullo ante 

ral, bound himself by a vow to build a temple to the goddess. Flo- 
rius, lib. i. cap. 19. The deity that presided over the air and the 
elements, was supposed to be the father of all, and the earth the 
mother. This idea of a creative power was not confined to Greece 
and Rome. " It was the opinion of all the Celtic nations, and of the 
ancient Syrians, that the Supreme Being, or celestial God, had united 
with the earth to produce the inferior deities, man, and all other 
creatures. Upon this was founded that veneration they had for the 
earth, which they considered as a goddess. They called her Mother 
Earth, and the Hertha of the German was the same as Frica, or Frea, 
the wife of Odin, mother of the gods ; she was also known under the 
name of Astagood, or the goddess of love ; a name not very remote 
from the Astarte of the Phoenicians; and under that of Goya, which 
the ancient Greeks gave to the earth. The Father of the gods and 
Mother Earth were called by some of the Scythian nations, Jupiter 
and Apia ; by the Thracians, Cotis and Bendis ; by the inhabitants 
of Greece and Italy, Saturn and Ops. Antiquity is full of traces of 
this worship, which was formerly universal. The Scythians adored 
the earth as a goddess, wife of the supreme God ; the Turks celebrat- 
ed her in their hymns, and the Persians offered sacrifices to her."* 
Northern Antiquities, vol. i. p, 91 and 95. 

k We are now entering on what may be considered as the third 
part of this treatise. In the first, the author has given a striking pic- 
ture of the general manners of the whole nation, considered as a peo- 
ple living under the influence of the same rough northern climate. 
From the beginning of section xxviii. he has traced the several states 
from the head of the Rhine, in the country of the Grisons, along the 
western side of Germany to where it branches off, and forms the isle 
of Batavia. From that place Tacitus has traced the several nations 
to the Elbe, and along the coast of the Baltic to the Vistula, the 
eastern boundary of Germany. In this third division of the work 



j. c 98. GERMANIA. 271 

Rhenum, sic nunc Danubium seqnar) Hermundurorum 
civitas, (7) fid a Romanis, eoque solis Germanorum dob in 
ripa cornmercium, sed penitus, atque in splendidissima 
Rhastiae provincial colonia : passim et sine custode transe- 
unt : et, cum ceteris gentibus arma modo castraque nostra 
ostendamus, hie domos villasque patefecimus, non concu- 
piscentibus. In Hermunduris Albis oritur, flumen in- 
clitum et notum olim ; nunc tantum auditor, 

XLII. Juxta Hermunduros Narisci, (ra) ac deinde Mar- 
comanni et Quadi agunt. Praecipua Marcomannorum (w) 
gloria viresque, atque ipsa etiam sedes, pulsis oiim Boiis, 
virtute parta. Nee Narisci Quadi ve degenerant. Eaque 
Germanise velut frons est, quatenus Danubio prolegitur. 

he pursues the course of the Danube, as long as it divides Germany 
from the Vindelici, from Xoricum, and Pannonza. He then follows 
the eastern side of the country, where a chain of mountains, or, as he 
expresses it, mutual fear draws the line of separation from Dacia 
and Sarmatia. In this geographical chart, the first nation that occurs 
is that of the Hermundunans, who occupied a country of prodigious 
extent, at first between the Elbe, the river Sala, and Eoiemum (now 
Bohemia,) which became the territory of the Mareomanni, when 
that people expelled the Boians, and fixed their habitation in the 
conquered country. In the time of Tacitus the Hermundurians pos- 
sessed the southern part of Germany, and being faithful to the Ro- 
mans, were highly favoured. Vindelica was a part of Rhaetia. 

I Tacitus is supposed in this place to be guilty of a geographical 
mistake. The source of the Elbe is in Bohemia, among the moun- 
tains that separate that country from Silesia. Bohemia, as will be 
seen in the following section, was, after the expulsion of the Boians, 
inhabited by the rvlarcomanni. It should, however, be remembered 
that the Hermundurians served in the army of Maroboduus, in his 
expedition against the Boians, and, perhaps, were rewarded with an 
allotment of lands in that part of Bohemia where the Elbe takes its 
rise. If so, Tacitus has made no mistake. There is a river, called 
the Egra, which rises in Suabia, and this, it is supposed by some of 
the commentators, Tacitus confounded with the source of the Elbe ; 
a river more known by the victories of Drusus and Tiberius, than by 
any discoveries made by the Romans since the days of those two com- 
manders. 

m The Xariscans occupied the country between Bohemia and the 
Danube, which is now part of Bavaria. 

n The Marcomannians, before they took possession of Boiemum, or 
Bohemia, are said to have inhabited the country near the Danube, 
now called the duchy of Wirtemburg, in the north part of the circle of 
Suabia. The Quadians occupied Moravia and part of Austria; in 
the time of Tacitus, a brave and warlike people, bat, in the reign of 
Valentniai and Valens, a nation of little consequence. See Ammia- 
nus Marcellinus, b. xxix. ch. 15. 



272 C. CORN. TACIT1. a.u.c.851. 

Marcomannis Quadisque usque ad nostram memoriam Re- 
ges manserunt ex gente ipsorum, nobile Marobodui (o) et 
Tudn genus ; jam et externos patiuntur. Sed vis et po- 
tentia Regibus {jp) ex auctoritate Romana : raro armis nos- 
tris, saepius pecunia, juvantur. 

XLI1I. Nee minus valent retro Marsigni, Gothini, Osi, 
Burii : terga Marcomannorum Quadorumque claudunt : e 
quibus Marsigni, (y) et Burii sermone cultuque Suevos 
referunt. Gothinos Gallica, Osos Pannonica lingua, coar- 
guit, non esse Germanos, et quod tributa patiuntur : par- 
tem tributorum Sarmatae, partem Quadi, ut alienigenis, in- 
ponunt. Gothini, quo magis pudeat, et ferrum effodi- 
unt : (r) omnesque hi populi pauca campestrium, ceterum 
saltus et vertices montium jugumque, (s) insederunt. Di- 
rimit enim scinditque Sueviam continuum montium jugum, 
ultra quod plurimoe gentes agunt : ex quibus latissirne pa- 
tet Lygiorom (t) nomen in plures civitates diffusum. Va~ 
lentissimas nominasse sufficiet, Arios, Helveconas, Mani- 
mos, Elysios, Naharvalos. (11) Apud Naharvalos antiquae 

o Maroboduus was king of the Marcomannians. For an account 
of him, and his alliance with the Romans against Arminius, see An- 
nals, b. ii. s. 46. With regard to Tudrus, the other pi ince mentioned 
by Tacitus, nothing is known at present. ^. 

p We are told by Tacitus that it was the policy of Rome, to make 
even kings the instruments of her ambition. With this view, the 
emperors disposed of sceptres whenever an occasion offered itself ; and 
accordingly, Tiberius, to keep in subjection a large body of German 
emigrants, appointed Vannius to reign over them. Annals, b. ii. 
e. 63. 

q History has not left materials for an accurate account of the four 
nations here enumerated. The commentators, however, assign their 
territories in the following manner. The Marsignians dwelt on the 
north-east of Bohemia, near Viadrus (now the Oder,) which rises in 
Moravia, and runs through Silesia, Brandenbourg, and Pomerania, 
into the Baltic. The Gothinians inhabited part of Silesia, and Hun- 
gary, i he Osians bordered on the last people, and extended as far 
as the Danube. The Burians were settled near the Krapack Moun- 
tains, and the sources of the Vistula. 

v Ptolemy mentions iron-mines in or near the country of the Qua- 
dians. The Gothinians laboured in those mines, and had, therefore, 
says Tacitus, more reason to be ashamed of their submission. 

s These are the mountains between Moravia, Hungary, Silesia,, 
and Bohemia. 

/ The nation of the Lygians inhabited part of Silesia, of Prussia 
and Poland as far as the banks of the Vistula. They are mentioned 
by Tacitus, Annals, b. xii, s. 29. 

u The situation of these several tribes cannot be stated with any 



i.e. 98. GERMAN1A. 273 

religionis lucus ostenditur. Prasidet Sacerdos muliebri 
ornatu : sed ' Deos, interpretatione Romana, Castorem 
* Pollucemque' (y) memorant. Ea vis numini : nomen 
\ Alcis :' nulla simulacra, nullum peregrinae superstitionis 
vestigium : ut fratres tamen, ut juvenes, venerantur, Ce- 
terum Arii super vires, quibus enumeratos paullo ante po- 
pulos antecedunt, truces, insitee feritati arte ac tempore 
lenocinantur : nigra scuta, tincta corpora, (w) atras ad prce- 
lia noctes legunt : ipsaque formidine atque umbra feralis 
exercitus terrorem inferunt, nullo hostium sustinente no- 
vum ac velut infernum adspectum : nam primi in omnibus 
proeliis oculi vincuntur. Trans Lygios Gothones (x) reg- 
nantur, paullo jam adductius, quam ceterae Germanorum 
gentes, nondum tamen supra libertatem. Protinus deinde 
ab Oceano Rugii, (?/) et Lemovii : omniumque harum gen- 
tium insigne, rotunda scuta, breves gladii, et erga Reges 
obsequium. 

XLIV. Suionum (z) hinc civitates, ipso in Oceano, pra- 
ter viros armaque classibus valent : (a) forma navium eo 

degree of certainty. Brotier, and other learned critics, place them 
in Silesia, Brandenbourg, and Poland, between the Viadrus (the 
Oder) and the Vistula. 

v Whoever is desirous to have a clear idea of the German and 
Scandinavian gods, will find a full account in the Northern Antiqui- 
ties, vol. i. ch. 6 ; as also in Schedius, De Diia Germanis, It is evi- 
dent in Verstegan's British Antiquities, that the German and ether 
northern nations worshipped the Sun and- Moon, whence were deriv- 
ed Sunday and Monday ; and also Tuisto, Woden, Thor, Friea or 
Frea, and Seater, called Saturn by the Roman writers ; and thence 
we have Tuesday, VVednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 
formed in regular succession, from the deities above enumerated. 

w The custom of painting the body has been in general use among 
all savage nations, for ornament as well as terror in the day of battle. 

x T he- Gothones dwelt near the mouth of the Vistula, in part of 
Pomerania and the north-west of Poland. 

y The Rugians were situated on the Baltic shore. The town of 
Rugenwald and the isle of Rugen are subsisting memorials of this 
people and their name. The Lemovians were in the neighbourhood 
of the Rugians on the coast of the Baltic, near the city of Dantzig. 

s The Sciiones occupied Sweden, and the Danish isles of Fumen, 
Langland, Zeeland, &c. From them and the Cimbrians issued forth 
the Norman race, who carried the terror of their arms through seve- 
ral parts of Europe, and at length took possession of the fertile pro- 
vince in France, which derived from those adventurers the present 
name of Normandy. 

a The naval force of the Suiones was for a long time time conside- 
rable. Their descendants in the eleventh century had the honour of 

25 



274 C. CORN. TAC1TL. a. u. c. 85 L 

/ 
differ!, quod utrimque prora paratam semper adpulsui fron- 
tem agit : nee velis ministrant, nee remos in ordinem late- 
ribus adjungimt. Solutum, ut in quibusdam fluminum. el 
mutabile, ut res poscit,.hinc vel illinc remigium. Est apud 
illos et opibus honos : (h) eoque unus imperitat, nullis jam 
exceptionibus, non precario jure parendi : nee arma, ut 
apud ceteros Germanos, in promiscuo, sed clausa sub cus- 
tode et quidem servo : quia subitos hostium incursus pro- 
hibet Oceanus, otiosae porro armatorum manus facile lasci- 
viunt: enimvero neque nobilem, neque ingenuum, ne li 
bertinum quidem, armis prseponere Regia utilitas est. 

XLV. Trans Suionas aliud mare, pigrum (c) ac prope 
inmotum, quo eingi cludique terrarum orbem hinc fides ; 
quod extremus cadentis jam solis fulgor in ortus edurat adeo 
clarus, ut sidera bebetet ; (d) sonum insuper audiri, for- 
masque Deorum et radios capitis adspici, persuasie adjicit. 
Illuc usque (et fama vera) tantum natura. (e) Ergo jam 
dextro Suevici maris litore jEst jorum (/) gentes adluun- 
tur : quibus ritus habitusque Suevorum ; lingua Britanni- 
cae proprior. Matrem Deum (g) venerantur : insigne su- 
perstitionis, formas aprorum gestant. Id pro armis omni- 
que tutela : securum Deae cultorem etiam inter hostes prae- 

framing tlie code of nautical laws, which were published at Wisby, 
the capital city of the isle of Gothland. 

b The love of money is here assigned as the cause of that state of 
slavery in which the Suiones were content to live. The observation 
is worthy of Tacitus, who upon this occasion called to mind the good 
old republic, and knew that the great revolution that happened, was 
occasioned by a total change of principle ; that is, by substituting a 
passion for riches in the room of ancient virtue. 

c The Frozen Ocean, which begins in latitude 81, can scarce be 
deemed navigable. That this sea was meant by Tacitus is by no 
means certain. It is more probable that he had in contemplation the 
northern extremity of the Baltic Sea, with the gulfs of Finland and 
Bothnia, which are frozen every winter, and, consequently, impracti- 
cable to mariners. 

d It is well known that in the northern climates, the sun, in some 
latitudes, is above the horizon during the four-and-twenty hours ; in 
others still more to the north, an entire month, and at the Pole full 
six months Astronomy was not well understood in the days of Ta- 
citus : hence the idea of the sun emerging out of the sea, and the 
horses of the god being visible. 

e The ancients thought that the ocean was the boundary of nature, 
and that no land lay beyond it. 

/ The iEstyans inhabited the kingdom of Prussia, Samogitia and 
Courland, and the palatinate of Livonia. 

g Frea^ or A*zc%was deemed to be the mother of the gods. 



.:. c. 98. GERMANIA. 275 

stat. Rarus ferri, frequens fustium usus. Frumenta ce- 
terosque fructus patientius, quam pro solita Germanorum 
inertia, laborant. Sed et mare scrutantur, ac soli omnium 
succinum, quod ipsi i Glesum' (h) vocant, inter vada atque 
in ipso litore legunt. Nee, quae natura, quseve ratio gig- 
nat, utbarbaris, quaesitum compertumve. Diu quin etiam 
inter cetera ejectamenta maris jacebat, donee luxuria nos- 
tra dedit nomen : ipsis in nullo usu : rude legitur, informe 
perfertur, pretiumque mirantes accipiunt. Succum tamen 
arborum esse intelligas, quia terrena quaedam atque etiam 
volucria animalia plerumque interlucent, quae inplicata hu- 
more, mox, durescente materia, cluduntur. Fecundiora 
igitur nemora lucosque, sicut Orientis secretis, ubi thura 
balsamaque sudantur, ita Occidentis insulis terrisque ines- 
se, crediderim ; quae vicini solis radiis expressa atque li- 
quentia in proximum mare labuntur, ac vi tempestatum in 
adversa litora exundant. Si naturam succini admoto igne 
tentes^in modum tedae accenditur, alitque flammam pinguem 
et olentem : mox ut in picem resinamve lentescit. Suio- 
nibus Sitonum (i) gentes continuantur. Cetera similes : 
uno differunt, quod femina dominatur : in tantum non modo 
a libertate, sed etiam a servitute degenerant. 

XLVI. Hie Siaeviae finis. Peucinorum (j) Venedo- 
rumque et Fennorum nationes Germanis an Sarmatis (k) 
adscribam, dubito : quamquam Peucini, quos quidam Bas- 

h Pliny (b. xxxviii. s. 3.) agrees with Tacitus, that amber, or sue- 
tinum, was by the Germans called ghssum ; a word latinized from 
gless, or glass. 

i The Sitones, according to Brotier and others, were the inhabi 
tants of Norway ; and since they are mentioned as a people included 
in the general name of the Suevian nation, an idea may be formed ot 
the vast extent of that prodigious territory, reaching from the Baltic 
to the Danube. 

j The Peucinians, often known by the name of Bastarnians, and 
so called by Pliny, dwelt on the eastern side of Germany, and extend- 
ed as far as the island now called Piczina, which is formed by the 
branches of the Danube, near the Pontic Sea. The territory of the 
Venedians, a contiguous people, lay on the north-east side of Germa- 
ny, and stretched over a long tract of country as far as the Sinus Ve- 
nedicus, now the gulf of Dantzig. The Fennians are described by 
Pliny, who calls their country Eningia, but, as Brotier observes, the bet- 
ter reading seems to be Feningia ; now Finland, a province of Sweden . 

k Sarmatia was divided from Germany by the Vistula, and a range 
of mountains ; but still we find that towards the north, part of the 
country on the east side of that river was supposed to belong to Ger- 
many, and was called Germania Transvistulana. Tacitus, however 
assigns all beyond Vistula to Sarmatia, 



276 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 

tarnas vacant, sermone, cultu, sede ac domicilii?, ut Germa- 
m agunt : sordes omnium ac torpor procerum : connubiis 
mixtis, nonnihil in Sarmatarum habitum foedantur. Venedi 
multum ex moribus traxerunt. Nam quicquid inter Peuci- 
nos Fennosque (/) silvarum ac montium erigitur, latroci- 
niis pererrant : hi tamen inter Germanos potius referun- 
tur. quia et domos fingunt et scuta gestant et pedum usu 
ac pernicitate gaudent ; quae omnia diversa Sarmatis sunt, 
in plaustro equoque viventibus. Fennis mira feritas, foeda 
paupertas : non arma, non equi, non Penates : victui her- 
foa, vestitui pelles, cubile humus : sola in sagittis spes, 
quas, inopia ferric ossibus asperant. Idemque venatus vi- 
ros pariter ac feminas alit. Passim enim comitantur, par- 
temque praedae petunt. Nee aliud infantibus ferarum im- 
briumque suffugium, quam ut in aliquo ramorum nexu con- 
legantur : hue redeunt juvenes, hoc senum receptaculunn 
Sed beatius arbitrantur, quam ingemere agris, inlaborare 
do riibtfs, suas alienasque fbrtunas spe metuque versare. 
Securi adversus homines, securi adversus Deos, rem diffi- 
cilimam adsecuti sunt, ut illis ne voto quidem opus esset. (ra) 
Cetera jam fabulosa : ' Hellusios et Oxionas ora hominum 
• vultusque, corpora atque artus ferarum, gerere :' quod 
ego, ut incompertura, in medium relinquam. 

I The Fennians, or, in modern language, the Finlanders, were set- 
tled in Scandinavia, which was reckoned part of Germany. 

m Having nothing, they were secure against the violence of men \ 
and they had no reason to dread the vengeance of Heaveru Seneca 
has a similar sentiment. He says in commendation of poverty,. What 
can be happier than that state, which promises perpetual liberty, 
without an idea of danger from man, without anything to fear from 
the wrath of the Gods? Epist* xvii. The Hellusians and Oxioni- 
ans, who are the last people mentioned by Tacitus, are supposed by 
learned antiquaries to have been inhabitants of Lapland. Nothing 
more is known of them, than that fame reported them to be an am- 
biguous mixture of the human countenance and the limbs of wild 
beasts. What gave birth to those ancient fables was, probably, the 
dress of the natives, who, in those regions of frost and snow, were co- 
hered with hides of animals, like the Samojedes, and other savage na- 
tions near the Frozen Ocean. But to amuse his readers with a fabu- 
lous narrative, was not the design of such an author as Tacitus. He 
was not writing a romance. He meant to give, upon the fullest infor- 
mation, an authentic account of a people, whose fierce and uncon- 
querable love of liberty was, as he says himself, more dangerous to 
the Roman empire than all the pomp and pride of oriental monarchs. 
He has accordingly left, in his Treatise of the Germans, a faithful 
picture of society in its wild, uncultivated state. His work, com- 
pendious as it is, may be fairly called the most precious monument of 
antiquity, 



THE 



LIFE 



OF 



CNJEUS JULIUS AGRICOLA, 



CONTENTS. 



. The use and practice of biography to record the lives of eminent 
men. II. The custom dangerous under tyrannic power. III. Li- 
berty of sentiment under the reign of Trajan. IV. Birth and pa- 
rentage of Agricola : his education, and studies of hi3 youth. V, 
He learns the military art in Britain. VI. He marries advanta- 
geously, and obtains the quaestorship ; is made tribune of the peo- 
ple, and also praetor. VII. His mother murdered in Liguria by 
Otho's soldiers. Vespasian aspires to the empire : Agricola de- 
clares on his side. He is sent by Mucianus to command the twen- 
tieth legion then in Britain. His modest conduct advances his re- 
putation. IX. He returns to Rome ; is raised by Vespasian to the 
patrician rank, and made governor of Aquitania. He rises to the 
consulship, and gives his daughter in marriage to Tacitus ; is ap- 
pointed governor of Britain. X. Description of Britian. XI. 
Origin of the inhabitants, their institutions, religious rites* 
and manners. XII. Their military strength, and manner 
of fighting in armed chariots. The soil, the climate, precious 
metals, and pearl-fishery. XIII. Temper of the Britons 
since vanquished by the Romans. Expedition of Julius 
Caesar, and the other emperors. XIV. The several consular go- 
vernors of Britain in regular succession; Aulus Plautius, Ostorius 
Scapula, Aulus Didius Gallus, Veranius, Suetonius Paulinus. XV* 
Complaints and discontents of the Britons. XVI. General revolt 
under the conduct of Boadicea. Paulinus returns from his expedi- 
tion against the Isle of Tvlona, and conquers Boadicea. Trebellius 
Maximus appointed governor of Britain. He is succeeded by Vef^ 
25 * 



273 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 850, 

tius Bolanus. XVII. Abler generals sent into Britain by Vespa- 
sian. Petilius Cerealis commands with success, and after him Ju- 
lius Frontinus. XVIII. Agricola appointed governor. He sub- 
dues the Ordovicians, and marches to complete the reduction of the 
Isle of Mona. XIX. He begins a reformation in Britain, by intro- 
ducing literature and the arts of civilization. The Britons recon- 
ciled to Roman manners. XXII. Agricola pushes his conquests in 
the northern part of the Island, and penetrates as far as the Frith 
of Tay. XXIII. Forts and garrisons established to secure the 
country newly discovered XXIV. Agricola pushes his conquests 
to the western coast opposite to Ireland. He receives a petty king 
of that country under his protection, and is told that the island may 
be conquered by a single legion. XXV. Agricola explores the 
country beyond the Frith of Bodotria, and send3 his fleet to annoy 
the coast. XXVI. The Caledonians attack the ninth legion by 
surprise in the night. Agricola conies to the assistance of the le- 
gion ; the Britons put to the rout ; but soon after resume their 
courage, and form a general league against the Romans. XXVIII. 
A cohort, of the Usipians, levied in Germany, in a bold adventure 
sail round the northern part of the island. XXIX. Galgacus pre- 
pares to encounter the Romans, and takes post on the Grampian 
hill XXX. His admirable speech to his army. XXXIII. Agri- 
cola harangues his men XXXV. A fierce and bloody battle. 
XXXVIII. The Romans gain a complete victory. Agricola orders 
his fleet to sail round the whole island. XXXIX. Domitian re- 
ceives an account of Agricola's operations with pretended joy and 
dissembled uneasiness. XL. He grants triumphal ornaments and 
a statue to Agricola, but resolves to recall him from the command 
in Britain. Agricola returns to Rome, and meets with a cold re- 
ception from the emperor. His prudent plan of life. XLI. The 
emperor and his courtiers hostile to virtue. XLII. Agricola en- 
titled by lot to the government of Asia or Africa ; but Domitian by 
his emissaries contrives to dissuade him, and receives thanks for 
excusing him. XL1II. The death of Agricola. XLIV. His age % 
his form and stature and his public dignities. XLV. His loss the 
less to be regretted, as he escaped the horrid cruelties of Domi- 
tian, and the murder of the best men in Rome. The beautiful and 
pathetic sentiments with which Tacitus concludes. 

The Life of Agricola was written, 

Year of Rome, Of Christ. Consuls. 

8a0 97 Nerva, emperor, 3d time. 

Verginius Rufus. 



Clarorum vtrorum -facta- moresque posteris tradere a»- 
tiquitus usitatum, ne nostris quidem temporibus, quamquam 
incuriosa suorum aetas omisit, quotient magna aliqua ac no- 
folis virtus vicit ac supergressa est vLtium, parvis magnis- 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 279 

que civitatibus commune, ignorantiam recti et invidiam, (a) 
Sect apud priores, ut agere memoratu digna proiium magis- 
que in aperto erat ; ita celeberrimus quisque ingenio, ad 
prodendam virtutis memoriam, sine gratia aut ambitione, 
bonae tantum conscientiae pretio ducebatur. Ac plerique, 
suam ipsi vitam narrare, fiduciam potius morum, quam ad- 
rogantiam arbitrati sunt : nee id Rutilio et Scauro (b) citra 
iidem aut obtrectationi fuit : adeo virtutes iisdem tempori- 
bus optime aestimantur, quibus facillime gignuntur. At mi- 
ni, nunc narraturo vitam defuncti hominis, venia opus fuit : 
quam non petissem, ni incusaturus tarn saeva et infesta vir- 
tutibus tempora. (c) 

II. Legimus, cum Aruleno Rustico (d) Paetus Thrasea, 
Herennio Senecioni (e) Priscus rielvidius laudati essent ? 

a Injustice to living merit proceeds from a variety of causes ; from 
inattention, ignorance, or envy. We praise the past and neglect the 
present, says Tacitus, Annate, b. ii. s. 88. 

b The two persons mentioned in this place, as having" written me- 
moirs of their own lives, were men of superior eminence, distinguished 
as well by their virtues as their abilities. Rutilius was consul A U. 
C. 649, before the Christian aera 105. He had served in the wars in 
Numidia; and in the year of Rome 667, when Mucius Scaevola was 
appointed proconsular governor of Asia Minor,he was appointed by that 
virtuous citizen to the rank of lieutenant governor. ^Emilius Scau- 
rus was consul A. U. C. 639, before the Christian aera 85. He was 
descended from a patrician family ; but, having only a moderate for- 
tune, he owed his elevation to his talents. He bx>re for many years- 
the honourable title of Prince of the Senate ; a title which added no- 
thing to his power, but gave him great weight and authority, implying 
superior merit, and pre-eminence in virtue. 

c It has been already mentioned, that Agricola commanded in Bri- 
tain in the time of Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian. The reign of 
the last is the evil period intended by Tacitus ; see a description of it, 
Hist. b. Is. 2. 

d Arulenus Ruslicus was tribune of the people A. U. C. 819, A. D. 
d6. Being then a young man of spirit, he wished to distinguish him- 
self by an early display of those principles of honour, which marked 
his conduct through the remainder of his life. He intended by his* 
tribunitian authority to prevent a decree against Paetus Thrasea. See 
Annals, b. xvi. s. 26. Being praetor, during the short reign ofVitellius, 
he was sent at the head of an embassy to treat of terms of accommo- 
dation with the generals of Vespasian's army, then at the gates of 
Rome ; but neither the rank of ambassador, nor the character of the 
man, could protect him from the outrages committed by the soldiers. 
Arulenus Rusticus was wounded in the fray, and his lictor was mur- 
dered. History, b. iii. s. 80. He afterwards wrote the life of his friend 
Paetus Thrasea, and for that offence was condemned to die. 

e Senecio was a native of Spain, born in the province of Boetic&i 



280 C. CORN. TACITL a. v. c. 850, 

oapitale fuisse : neque in ipsos modo auctores, sed in libros 
quoque eormn saevitum, delegato Triumviris ministerio, ut 
monumenta clarissimorum ingeniorum in comitio ac foro 
urerentur. (/) Scilicet, illo igne vocem Populi Romani 
et libertatem Senatus et conscientiam generis humani abo- 
leri arbitrabantur, expulsis insuper sapientiae professoribus, 
atque omni bona arte in exsilium acta, ne quid usquam ho- 
nestum occurreret. Dedimus profecto grande patientiae 
documentum : et, sicut vetus aetas vidit, quid ultimurn in 
libertate esset, ita nos, quid in servitute, adempto per in- 
quisitiones et loquendi audiendique commercio. Memori- 
am quoque ipsam cum voce perdidissemus, si tarn in nostra 
potestate esset oblivisci, quam tacere. (g) 

III. Nunc demum redit animus : et quamquam, primo 
statim beatissimi saeculi ortu, Nerva (h) Caesar res olira 

where he filled the office of quaestor in the reign of Domitian, and 
never aspired to any higher honour. Not choosing to be a candidate 
for the magistracy, he was considered as an obstinate republican, hos- 
tile to the established government, and a friend to innovation. He 
wrote the life of Helvidius Priscus. The praise bestowed upon that 
excellent man inflamed the rage of Domitian. Mettius Carus, a no- 
torious prosecutor of the best men in Rome, stood forth as the accuser 
of Senecio, who acknowledged himself the author of the book, but 
urged in his defence, that he wrote it at the desire of Fannia, the 
widow of Helvidius. Senecio, for his praise of Helvidius, was 
found guilty, and, to glut the cruelty of Domitian, adjudged to death. 
His work was burnt by the public executioners. 

/ The custom of destroying books is of ancient date, and was chief- 
ly exercised under despotic governments. Before the invention of 
printing, there was no way of multiplying copies but by the industry 
of transcribers, and, at that time, the vengeance of men in power might 
succeed. 

g Pliny describes the senate in a state of stupefaction, forgetting 
almost every thing, the liberal arts, and the rules and privileges of 
their order. In such times what useful knowledge could be acquir- 
ed? The senate was convened to do nothing, or to be plunged in 
guilt and cruelty. They were either a laughing-stock, or the in- 
struments of the vilest tyranny. The fathers were involved in the 
calamities of the times ; the citizens of Rome groaned under oppress 
sion during a number of years; and, in that dreadful period, their 
faculties were debased, and the vigour of their minds utterly extin- 
guished. Pliny, lib. viii. ep. 14. But amidst all this tame resigna- 
tion, a sense of injuries, however suppressed, was rankling in every 
breast. 

h On the death of Domitian, that emperor's acts were rescinded, 
and Nerva began his reign, A. U. C. 849 ; he adopted Trajan in Oc- 
tober or November, 850, and died on or about the 21st January, 851. 
Trajan, from that time, was called Nerva Trajanus. As Nerva is not 



j. c. 97. AGR1C0LA. 281 

dissociabiles miscuerit, Principatum ac libertatem, augeat- 
que quotidie felicitatem Imperii Nerva Trajanus, nee spem 
modo ac votura Securitas publica, (z) sed ipsius voti fidu- 
ciam ac robur, adsumpserit : natura tamen infirmitatis hu- 
manae tardiora sunt remedia, quam mala ; et, ut corpora 
lente augescunt, cito exstinguuntur, sic ingenia studiaque 
oppresseris facilius, quam revocaveris. Subit quippe 
etiam ipsius inertiae dulcedo : et invisa primo desidia pos- 
tremo amatur. Quid ? si per quindecim annos, (j) grande 
mortalis aevi spatium, multi fortuitis casibus, promptissimus 
quisque saevitia Principis interciderunt ? Pauci, ut ita 
dixerira, non modo aliorum, sed etiam nostri superstites 
sumus ; exemptis e media vita tot annis, quibus juvenes ad 
senectutem, senes prope ad ipsos exact* aetatis terminos, 
per silentium venimus : non tamen pigebit, vel incondita 
ac rudi voce, memoriara prioris servitutis, ac testimonium 
praesentium bonorum composuisse. Hie interim liber ho- 
nori Agricolae, soceri mei, destinatus. professione pietatis 
aut laudatus erit, aut excusatus. 

IV. Cnaeus Julius Agricola, veteri et inlustri Forojuli- 
ensium (k) colonia ortus, utrumque avum Procurato- 
rem (/) Caesarum habuit : quae Equestris nobilitas est, 

called Divus, that is, the Deified Nerva, Lipsius and most of the com- 
mentators have inferred that Nerva was still alive. But how Trajan, 
in that short time between his adoption and the commencement of his 
reign, could be said to be every day increasing the public happiness, i3 
not easy to comprehend. It seems more probable that he was empe- 
ror of Rome when Tacitus wrote the life of Agricola, and the compli- 
ment paid to him in section xlv. implies that he was then the reigning 
prince. 

i The public security, Securitas Publica, was an inscription on the 
medals of the times. 

j Fifteen years was the period of Domitian's reign. Tacitus speaks 
of it with horror, and promises to review the tyranny and abject 
slavery of those dismal times. It is to be regretted, that such a savage, 
as Domitian has escaped from the pen of Tacitus. 

k Forojulium was a colony in Narbonne Gaul, now called Frejus, 
or Frejules, situated at the mouth of the river Agens, on the Medi- 
terranean, about forty miles north-east of Toulon. 

/ The management of all the foreign revenues was in the hands of 
the Roman knights Augustus left the appointment of some of the 
provinces to the discretion of the Senate, and reserved others for his 
own nomination. The last were called procuratores Ccesaris, imperi- 
al procurators^ and were either created Roman knights by virtue of 
their employment, or considered as of equal dignity. The money 
collected by the officers of the Senate was paid into the public trea- 



<m C. CORN. TAC1TL a. v. c. 850; 

Pater Julius Graecinus, (w) Senatorii ordinis, studio elo~ 
quentiae sapientiaeque notus, iisque virtutibus iram Caii 
Caesaris meritus : namque M Silanum («) adcusare 
jussus et, quia abnuerat, interfectus est. Mater Julia 
Procilla fuit, rarae castitatis : in hujus sinu indulgentiaque 
educatus, per omnem honestarum artium cultum pueritiam 
adolescentiamque transegit Arcebat eum ab inlecebris 
peccantium, prgeter ipsius bonam integramque natumn, 
quod statim parvulus sedem ac magistrarn studiorum Mas- 
siliam (o) habuerit, locum Graeca comitate et provinciali 
parsimonia mistum ac bene compositum. Memoria teneo, 
solitum ipsumnarrare, ' se in prima juventa studium philo- 
i sophiae acrius, ultra quam concessum Romano ac Sena-to- 
4 ri, (p) hausisse, ni prudentia matris incensum ac flagran- 
* tern animum coercuisset.' Scilicet, sublime et erectum 
ingenium pulchritudinem ac speciem excels® magnaeque 
glorias vehementius, quam caute, adpetebat : mox mitiga- 
vit ratio et aetas : retinuitque, quod est difficillimum, ex 
sapientia modum. Prima castrorum rudimenta in Britan- 
nia Suetonio Paullino, (^) diligenti ac moderato Duci, ad- 



sury (JErarium?) and that of the imperial procurators into the Fiscus t 
or exchequer of the prince. 

m Seneca has given an admirable character of Agricola's father. 
If, says he, we need the example of a great and exalted mind, let us imi- 
tate Julius Graecinus, that excellent man, whom Caius Caesar (Cali- 
gula) put to death for no other reason, than because he had more 
rirtue than a tyrant could endure. De Beneiiciis, lib. ii. s. 21. 

n Marcus Silanus was highly respected, not on^y for his birth and 
rank, but also for his eminent virtues. He had the misfortune of be* 
ing father-in-law to Caligula. He incurred the hatred of that tyrant 
by his honest counsels. 

o This city, (now Marseilles) was founded by a coleny of the Pho- 
oseans. 

p Military science, a thorough knowledge of the laws, and the 
powers of eloquence, were the accomplishments by which a citizen of 
Rome raised himself to the honours of the magistracy and the consul- 
ship. This was not only the case during the republic, but continued 
under the emperors. The man who devoted himself to the specula- 
tions of philosophy, or to a life of literature, could not, by those ab- 
stract studies, open his way into the Senate. Agricola was aware of 
this, and therefore relinquished the metaphysical systems, to which 
he felt himself strongly addicted. 

q Suetonius Paulinus was sent by Nero to command in Britain, A. 
U. C. 814, and of the Christian sera 61. Of this officer, one of the 
ablest that Rome produced during the first century of the Christian 
sera, an ample character is given by Tacitus, Annals, b, xiv. s. 29, 



J. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 283 

probavit : electus, quem contubernio (r) sestimaret. Nee 
Agricola licenter, more juvenum, qui militiani in lasciviam 
vertunt, neque segniter, ad voluptates et commeatus (s) 
titulum Tribunatus el inscitiam retulit : sed noscere pro- 
vinciarn, nosci exercitui, discere a peritis, sequi optimos, 
nihil adpetere jactatione, nihil ob formidinem recusare, si- 
mulque anxius et intentus agere. Non sane alias exerci- 
Utior, magisque in ambiguo Britannia fait : (r) trucidati ve- 
terani, incensae colonic, intercept! exercitus : turn de sa- 
lute, mox de victoria, certavere. Quae cuncta etsi consi- 
His ductuque alterius agebantur, ac summa rerum et reci- 
peratae provincial gloria in Ducem cessit ; artem et usum 
et stimulos addidere juveni : intravitque animum militaris 
glorias cupido, ingrata temporibus, quibus sinistra erga emi- 
nentes interpretatio, nee minus periculum ex magna fama. 
quam ex mala. 

VI. Hiac ad capessendos Magistratus in urbem digres- 
sus, Domitiam Decidianam, splendidis natalibus ortam, sibi 
junxit : idque matrimonium ad majora nitendi decus ac ro- 
bur fuit : vixeruntque mira concordia, per mutuam carita- 
tem et invicem se anteponendo : nisi quod in bona uxore 
tanto major laus, quanto in mala plus culpa? est. Sors 
Quaestura? (u) provinciam Asiam 5 Proconsulem Salvium 

. Rank in the Roman armies, such as tribune or centurion, was 
the claim of merit. It was, for that reason, the custom of young men 
of illustrious families to attend in the train of the general, in order to 
learn the first rudiments of war, or, in the modern phrase, to set ser- 
vice. The young officer lived at head quarters. By learning to obey* 
he was taught how to command at a future time. 

5 There were so many candidates for the rank of tribune, that the 
general, in order to divide his favours, often granted those commis- 
sions for the term of six months. It is probable, however, that Agri- 
cola's merit obtained a full commission ; but he did not avail himself 
of his preferment to gain his commeatus, which Gronovius calls, jus 
absentia a si^ms, the right of being absent from the colours Those 
exemptions from duty were often improperly granted to the great 
detriment of the service, as we see in the History, b. i. s. 46. 

f While Suetonius was employed in the reduction of the Isle of 
Mona. now Anglesey, the chief seat of the Druids, and consequently 
the centre of superstition, the Britons, taking advantage of his ab- 
sence, rose in arms ; and, headed by Boadicea, queen of the Iceni, at- 
tacked the Roman stations, and laid a scene of blood and carnage in 
every quarter. No less than 70,000 were put to the sword without 
distinction. 

u Hie qusestorship was the first office entered upon by those who 
aspired to the higher magistracies. It might be undertaken at the age 
of twenty-four. 



284 0. CORN. TACITL a. u. c. 850. 

Titianum, dedit : quorum neutro conruptus est : quam- 
quam et provincia dives ac parata peccantibus, et Procon- 
sul in omnem aviditatem pronus, quantalibet facilitate re- 
dempturus esset mutuam dissimulationem mali. Auctus 
est ibi filia, in subsidium et solatium simul : nam filium 
ante sublatum brevi amisit. Mox inter Quaesturam ac Tri- 
bunatum (v) piebis atque etiam ipsum Tribunatus annum 
quiete et otio transiit, gnarus sub Nerone temporum, qui- 
bus inertia pro sapientia fuit. Idem PraBturae tenor et si- 
lentium : nee enim jurisdictio (w) obvenerat. Ludos et 
inania honoris moderations atque abundantiae duxit, uti 
longe a luxuria, ita famae propior. Turn electus a Galba 
ad dona (a) templorum recognoscenda, diligentissima con- 
quisitione fecit, ne cujus alterius sacrilegium Respublica, 
quam Neronis sensisset. 

VII. Sequens annus gravi vulnere animum domumque 
ejus adflixit : nam classis Othoniana, licenter vaga ? dum In- 
temelios (y) (Liguriae pars est) hostiliter populatur, matrem 
Agricolae in praesidiis suis interfecit : praediaque ipsa et 
magnam patrimonii partem diripuit, quae caussa caedis fue- 
rat. Igitur ad solemnia pietatis profectus Agricola, nuntio 
adfectati a Vespasiano Imperii deprehensus, ac statim in 
partes transgressus est. Initia Principatus (*) ac statum 

V The office of tribune owed its origin to a violent dispute between 
the patricians and plebians, A. U. C. 260 ; when the latter, making a 
defection could not be reduced to order, till they obtained the privi- 
lege of choosing some magistrates out of their own body, for the de- 
fence of their liberties, and to ward off all grievances ; mposed upon 
them by their superiors. At first two only were elected ; three more 
were added in a short time ; and, A. U. C. 297, the number increas- 
ed to ten, which continued ever after. 

w The office of praetor was first instituted i» the year of Rome 389, 
to gratify the patrician order with a new dignity, in consideration of 
their having resigned the consulship to the choice of the people. 
Livy, b. vii. s. 1. In process of time, eight praetors were chosen an- 
nually, and had their separate provinces in the administration of 
justice. 

x Nero was put to death, A. U. C. 821, of the Christian aera, 68. 
Galba succeeded, but reigned only a few months. Agricola was cho- 
sen for the due care of religion, and the protection of the public tem- 
ples ; but the plunder committed by Nero, about three years before 
lais death, could not be redressed. 

y intern Hum was a municipal town in the country now called 
Vintimiglia, in the territory of Genoa. It was situated on the Medi- 
terranean 

b Vespasian remained in Asia and Egypt, while his generals carried 



*. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 26*5 

urbis Mucianus regebat, admodum juvene Domitiano, et 
ex paterna fortuna tantum licentiam usurpante. Is mis- 
,sum ad delectus agendos Agricolam, integreque ac strenue 
versatum, vicesimae legioni, tarde ad sacramentum trans- 
gressae, praeposuit, ubi decessor seditiose agere narraba- 
tur : quippe Legatis quoque Consularibus nimia ac formi- 
dolosa erat. 

VIII. Nee Legatus Praetorius ad cohibendum potens, 
incertum, suo an militum ingenio : ita successor simul, et 
ultor electus, rarissima moderatione, maluit videri invenis- 
se bonos, quain fecisse. Praeerat tunc Britanniae Vettius 
Bolanus, (a) placidius, quam feroci provincia dignum est : 
temperavit Agricola vim suam, ardoremque compescuit, ne 
incresceret ; peritus obsequi, eruditusque utilia honestis 
miscere. Brevi deinde Britannia Consularem Petilium 
Cerialem accepit. Habuerunt virtutes spatium exemplo- 
rum. Sed primo Cerialis modo labores et discrimina, mox 
et gloriam communicabat : saepe parti exercitus, in expe- 
rimentum, aliquando majoribus copiis, ex eventu, praefe- 
cit : nee Agricola umquam in suam famam gestis exsulta- 
vit ; ad auctorem et Ducem, ut minister, fortunam refere- 
bat : ita virtute in obseqnendo, verecundia in praedicando, 
extra invidiam, nee extra gloriam, erat. 

IX. Revertentem ab legatione legionis D. Vespasianus 
inter patricios (b) adscivit, ac deinde provinciae Aquita- 
niae (c) praeposuit, splendidae in primis dignitatis, adminis- 

their victorious arms to the city of Rome, and proclaimed him empe- 
ror. His son Titus, in the mean time, carried on the siege of Jerusa- 
lem. Domitian was at Rome, but too young; to conduct the reins of 
government. Vice and debauchery were more suited to his genius , 
Mucianus, the confidential minister of Vespasian, arrived at Rome, 
and took upon him the whole conduct of the administration. 

o Vettius Bolanus was sent by Vitellius to command in Britain, 
after the abdication of Trebellius Maximus. He had served under 
Corbulo in Armenia, but, according to Tacitus, does not seem to have 
profited by the example of so great a master. 

b The senators were not, of course, of the patrician order, as ap- 
pears, dnnah xi. s. 25, where we see the emperor Claudius adding 
the oldest of the fathers to the list of patricians ; the families ©f that 
Tank, created by Romulus and by Brutus, and also those advanced by 
Julius Caesar and Augustus, being well nigh extinguished. Vespasia» 
exercised the same authority, and, under his patronage, Agrico- 
la rose to the honours of the state. 

c The grand divisions of Gaul have been mentioned in the Man- 
ners of the Germans, section i. note (a.) To that account it may bfe 

26 



286 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850. 

tratione ac spe Consulates, cui destinarat. Credunt pie- 
rique, militaribus ingeniis subtilitatem deesse ; quia cas- 
trensis jurisdictio secura et obtusior, ac plura manu agens, 
calliditatem fori non exerceat Agricola naturali pruden- 
tia, quamvis inter togatos, facile justeque agebat. Jam 
vero tempora curarum remissionumque divisa : ubi con- 
ventus ac judicia poscerent, gravis, intentus, severus, et 
saepius misericors : ubi officio satisfactum, nulla ultra po- 
testatis persona : tristitiam et adrogantiam et avaritiam ex- 
uerat : nee illi, quod est ranssimum, aut facilitas aucto- 
ritatem, aut severitas amorem, deminuit. Integritatem 
atque abstinentiam in tanto viro referre, injuria virtutum 
fuerit. Ne famam quidem, cui etiam saepe boni indulgent, 
ostentanda virtute, aut per artem quaesivit : procul ab 
aemulatione adversus conlegas, procul a contentione adver- 
sus Procuratores : (d) et vincere inglorium, et adteri sor- 
di.luxB, arbitrabatur. Minus triennium in ea Legatione de- 
tentus, ac statim ad spem Consulatus revocatuis est, comi- 
tante opinione, Britanniam ei provinciam dari : nullis in 
hoc suis sermonibus, sed quia par videbatur. Haud sem- 
per errat fania, aliquando et elegit. Consul (e)egregiae 
turn spei fiiiam juveni mihi despondit, ac post Consulatum 



proper to add, that a subdivision was made "by Augustus, distributing 
the whole country into seven provinces; namely, Narbonne Gaul; 
Aquitania, the province of Lugdunum, or Lyons, properly Celtic 
Gaul; Belgic Gaul, and Upper and Lower G ermany. These seve- 
ral districts, except Narbonne Gaul, were under the immediate ma- 
nagement of the prince. The province of Aquitania was inclosed by 
the Pyrenean mountains, the Rhone, the Loire, and the Atlantic 
Ocean. 

d The governors of provinces administered justice net only to the 
army, but likewise to the inhabitants. In discharging the functions 
of his station, Agricola took care to have no dispute, no contest with 
subordinate officers. 

e In the year of Rome 830, and of the Christian sera 77, Vespasian 
was consul, eighth time, with his son Titus, the sixth. On the calends 
of July in that year, Brotier says, upon the authority of Muratori, 
Annali (T Italia, torn. i. p. 281, that Domitian and Agricola were ap- 
pointed consuls for the remainder of the year. This practice was 
first introduced by Augustus, under the plausible pretence of having 
more frequent opportunities to oblige the illustrious families of Rome, 
but, in fact, to impair the dignity, and lessen the power of the con- 
suls. The succeeding emperors adopted the same plan of policy ; and 
the mischief went on increasing, till in the reign of Commodus there 
was no less than five and twenty consuls in one year. 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 287 

conlocavit, et statim Britanniae propositus est, adjecto 
Pontificatus Sacerdotio. 

X. Britanniaa situm populosque, multis scriptoribus me- 
moratos, non in comparationem curse ingeniive referam : 
sed quia turn primum perdomita est. Itaque, quae priores 
nondum comperta, eloquentia percoluere, rerum fide tra- 
dejitur. Britannia, insularum, quas Romana notitia com- 
plectitur, maxima, spatio ac coelo in Orientem Germaniae, 
in Occidentem Hispaniae (/) obtenditur : Gallis in Meri- 
diem etiam inspicitur : Septemtrionalia ejus, nullis contra 
terris, vasto atque aperto mari pulsantur. Form am totius 
Britanniae Livius veterum, Fabius Rusticus recentium elo- 
quentissimi auctores, oblongae scutulae vel bipenni adsimu- 
lavere : et est ea facies citra Caledoniam, unde et in uni- 
versum fama est transgressa : sed inmensum et enorme 
spatium procurrentium extremo jam littore terrarum, ve- 
lut in cuneum tennatur. Hanc oram novissimi maris tunc 
primum Romana classis circumvecta, insulam esse Britan- 
niam adfirmavit, ac simul incognitas ad id tempus insulas, 
quas Orcadas (g) vocant, invenit domuitque : dispecta est 
et Thule (h) quadamtenus : nix et hiems adpetebat ; sed 
mare pigrum et grave remigantibus : perhibent, ne ventis 
quidem perinde adtolli : (i) credo, quod rariores terrae 
montesque, caussa ac materia tempestatum, et profunda 

/ Caesar says that the western side extends towards Spain, and that 
Ireland, about half as large as Britain, lies opposite to that coast. De 
Bell. Gall. lib. v. s. 13. 

g The Orcades (now the Orkney Islands) were known by the re- 
port of fame ki the reign of Claudius. Some historians have ascribed 
the conquest to that emperor, but for this there does not seem to be 
sufficient foundation. 

h Much has been said by the Greek and Roman poets of a place 
in the northern regions, called Thule ; but it is evident they did not 
all agree in the geographical description. Camden is of opinion that 
the Thule of Tacitus is one of the Shetland islands, which lie to the 
north of the Orcades, latit. 60. The ancient poets heard of Thule y 
and made their own use of it, to adorn their verse. Thule was, in 
general, understood to be the most remote land to the northern lati- 
tudes, but the exact local situation was not ascertained. 

i From vague and uncertain accounts of the Frozen Ocean, the 
ancients might form their idea of a sea in such a thick and concrete 
state, that the oars could hardly move, and the winds scarcely agitate 
3iich a sluggish mass of water. But the tranquility of those seas has 
been long known to be a mere fiction. It is therefore needless to 
examine the reasons assigned by Tacitus, to account for a phenomenon 
which does not exist, 



0. CORN. TAGITI. a. v. c. 850. 

moles continui maris tardius inpellitur. Naturam Oceani 
atque asstus neque quaerere hujus operis est, ac multi re- 
tulere : unum addiderim : nusquam latius doininari mare ? 
multum fluminum hue atque illuc ferre, nee litore tenus 
adcrescere aut resorberi, sed influere penitus atque am- 
bire, et jugis etiam atque montibus inseri velut in suo. 

XI. Ceterum, Britanniam qui mortales initio coluer^nt, 
indigenae an advecti, ut inter barbaros, parum comper- 
turn, (j) Habitus corporum varii : atque ex eo argumen- 
ta : namque rutilae Caledoniam habitantium comas, magni 
artus, Germanicam originem adseverant. Silurum colorati 
vultus et torti plerumque crines, et posita contra Hispania, 
Iberos veteres trajecisse easque sedes occupasse, fidem 
faciunt : proximi Gallis et similes sunt : seu durante origi- 
nis vi, seu, procurrentibus in diversa terris, positio coeli 
eorporibus habitum dedit : in uniFjersum tamen aestimanti, 
Gallos vicinum solum occupasse, credibile est. Eorum 
sacra deprehendas, superstitionum (fc) persuasione : serm© 
haud multum diversus, in deposcendis periculis eadem au- 
dacia, et, ubi advenere, in detrectandis eadem formido : 
plus tamen ferociae (/) Britanni praeferunt, ut quos nondum 
longapax emollient: nam Gallos quoque in bellis floruisse 

j Through the want of literary records, the history of barbarous 
nations is generally lost in darkness. When the origin of a people 
could not be traced, the difficulty was surmounted, by supposing that 
the soil, by a certain fecundity in those early seasons of the world, 
produced the race of man. Mother earth, or Mater Tellus, satisfied 
the inquiries of the most profound philosophy. The sons of the earth 
were called indigence, aborigines, or natives of the soil. Men were 
supposed to spring from the bowels of the earth, from the trunks of 
trees, and even from rocks. But the age of darkness is past, and the 
reveries of ignorance have long since vanished. 

k The Druids, according to Caesar's account, believed in the trans- 
migration of souls, and that doctrine they thought had a happy ten- 
dency to inspire men with courage, and a contempt of death. They 
taught their pupils a system of astronomy ; they described the various 
revolutions of the planets, the dimensions of the globe, the operations 
of nature ; they talked with reverence of the immortal gods, and 
initiated their youth in all their mysteries. De Bell. Gall. lib. vi. 
s. 13. 

I Solinus, speaking of the warlike Britons, says, when a woman 
is delivered of a male child, she places the infant's first food on the 
point of her husband's sword, and inserts it in the little one's mouth ; 
and offering up her supplication to the gods of her country, devoutly 
prays, that he may die in war amidst hostile swords and javelin?, 
Solinus^ chap, 22 e 



j, c. 97. AGRlCOLA. &89 

accepimus : mox segnitia cum otio intravit, amissa virtute 
pariter ac libertate : quod Britannorum olim victis evenit •, 
ceteri manent, quales Galli fuerunt. 

XII. In pedite robur : quaedam nationes et curru proe- 
liantur : honestior auriga, clientes propugnant : olim Re- 
gibus parebant, nunc per Principes factionibus et studiis 
trahuntur : nee aliud adversus validissimas gentes pro no- 
bis utilius, quam quod in commune non consulunt. Rarus 
duabus tribusve civitatibus ad propulsandum commune peri- 
culum conventus : (m) ita, dum singuli pugnant, universi 
vincuntur. Coelum crebris imbribus ac nebulis foedum : 
asperitas frigorum abest. Dierum spatia ultra nostri or- 
bis mensuram, et nox clara et extrema Britannia^ parte 
brevis, (n) ut finem atque initium lucis exiguo discrimine 
internoscas. ■ Quod si nubes non officiant^ adspici per 
4 noctem Solis fulgorem, nee occidere et exsurgere, sed 
' transire' adfirmant. Scilicet extrema et plana terrarum, 
humili umbra, non erigunt tenebras, infraque coelum et si- 
dera nox cadit. (o) Solum, praeter oleam vitemque et ce- 
tera calidioribus terris oriri sueta, patiens frugum, fecun- 
dum : tarde mitescunt, scito proveniunt : eadem utriusque 
rei caussa, multus humor terrarum ccelique. Fert Bri- 
tannia aurum et argentum et alia metalla, pretium victo- 
rias : gignit et Oceanus margarita, sed subfusca ac liyentia. 



m Literally, that a meeting is seldom had between two or three 
cities to repel the common danger. But the word Civitas is rarely 
used by the Latin historians, for what, in the modern acceptation, is 
called a city. Civitas generally implies a body politic, a people 
united in a civil society, under a settled constitution and a regular 
frame of laws. 

n Tacitus, in this place, may be said to be out of his depth. His 
notions here, as well as in the passage concerning the Suiones in the 
Manners of the Germans, section xlr. hold more of the poet than the 
philosopher. Astronomy and geography were sciences not sufficiently 
cultivated in his time. 

o When Tacitus endeavours to assign a reason for the short inter- 
val between day and night, and says^ that the extreme and flat parts of 
the earthy casting a low shadow, do not elevate the darkness, and night 
falls beneath the sky and the stars, it is impossible to strike out any 
thing like sense from a passage so very embarrassed and obscure 
Tacitus, it should seem, thought that the earth was one extensive 
continued surface, and that night was occasioned by the sun's retiring 
behind high lands and mountains. The form of the globe, its rota- 
tion on its axis, and the various positions in its annual orbit, are 
mathematical discoveries, which were not known to the Romans 

26* 



290 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 85Q, 

Qjiidam artem abesse legentibus arbitrantur : nam in ru- 
bro mari viva ac spirantia saxis velb, in Britannia,- prout 
expulsa sint, conligi : ego facilius crediderim, naturam 
margaritis deesse, quam nobis av.aritiam. 

XIII. Ipsi Britanni delectum ac tributa et injuncta Im- 
perii munera impigre obeunt/si ijijuriae absint : has aegre 
tolerant, jam domiti, utpareant, nondum, ut servient. Igi- 
tur (p) primus omnium Komanorum D. Julius cum exerci- 
tu Britanniam ingressus, quamquam prospera pugna ter- 
ruerit incolas, ac litore potitus sit, potest videri ostendisse 
posteris, non tradidisse. Mox bella civilia, et in Rempub- 
licam versa principum arma, ac longa oblivio Britanniae 
etiam in pace. Consilium id divus Augustus vocabat, Ti- 
berius praeceptum. Agitasse Caium Caesarem (9) de in- 
tranda Britannia, satis constat, ni velox irigenio, mobilis 
poenitentia, et ingentes adversus Germaniam conatus frus- 
tra fuissent. Divus Claudius (r) auctor operis, transvec- 
tis legionibus auxiliisque, et adsumpto in partem rerum 
Vespasiano : quod initium venturae mox fortuna* fuit : do- 
mitas gentes, capti Reges, et monstratus fatis Vespasianus. 

XIV. Consularium primus Aulus Plautius (s) proposi- 
tus, ac subinde Ostorius Scapula, (t) uterque bello egre- 

p Tacitus now proceeds to relate the progress of the Roman arms 
in Britain, from the first invasion of the Island by Julius Caesar to the 
time when Agricola became commander in chief. 

q Caligula's threatened invasion of Britain ended in an idle and 
vain parade History has no scene of folly to compare with it. The 
German expedition presented a farce to the world, in which the em- 
peror exposed himself to derision. His mock triumph over the Bri- 
tons was a sequel to the former frolic, but still more absurd and ridi- 
culous. See Suetonius, Life of Caligula. 

r The Britons, unmolested by the Romans, had enjoyed their li- 
berty near a century, when, in the reign of Claudius, the project of 
subduing the island was concerted. The most stupid of the emperors 
was destined to be the conqueror of Britain. A powerful army was 
sent from Gaul, under the command of able officers. The southern 
parts of the island being soon reduced, Claudius resolved to visit his 
new dominions. He took possession of Camelodunum (Colchester,) 
received the submission of several petty kings, and in less than six 
months returned to Rome, to enjoy the splendour of a triumph, 
with the additional title of Britannicus Suetonius, Life of 'Claudius* 
9. 17. 

« Aulus Plautius was commander in chief of the army sent by Clau- 
dius to '.he invasion o'' Britain, A. U. C. 796, A D 43. 

t An account of Ostorius Scapula and the brilliant success- of his 
arms, is given by Tacitus, Annais^ b. xii. s. 31 to 39. 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. . 291 

gius : redactaque paullatim in form am proyinciae proxima 
piirs Britanniae : addita insuper veterdnorum colonia : (^w) 
quaedam civil ates Cogiduno Regi clonal aB : (is ad nostrum 
usque memoriam ficiissimus rtiansii :) vttere ac jam pridem 
recepta Populi R'omani consuetudine, ut haberet instru- 
menta servitutis et Reges. Mox Didius Gallus (y) parta a 
prioribus continuit, paucis admoaum castellis in ulteriora 
promotis, per quae fama aucti officii qusereretur. Didium 
Veranius excepirt, isque intra annum exstinctus est. Sue-i 
tonius hinc Paullinus biennio prosperas res habuit, subactis 
nationibus, firmatisqae praesidiis : quorum fiducia Mo- 
nam (w) insulam, ut vires rebellibus ministrantem, adgres- 
sus, terga occasioni patefecit. 

XV. Namque absentia Legati remoto metu, Britanni 
agitare inter se mala servitutis, conferre injurias et inter- 
pretando accendere : (x) % nihil profici patientia, nisi ut 
' graviora^tamquam ex fecili tolerantibus, imperentur : 
' singulos sibi olim Reges (y) fuisse, nunc binos inponi : e 

* qui bus ' Legatus in sanguinem, Procurator in bona " saeyi- 

4 ret : aeque discordiam Praepositorum, aeque concordiam, 
1 subjectis exitiosam : alterius manus, Centuriones altenus, 
f vim etcontumelias miscere : nihil jam cupiditati, nihil li- 
1 bidini exceptum : in. proelio fortiorem esse, qui spoliet : 

5 nunc ab ignavis plerumque et inbellibus eripi domos, ab- 

* strahi liberos, injungi delectus, tamquam mori tantum pro 
( patrja nescientibus : quantum enim transisse militum; si sese 

* Britanni numerent ? sic Germanias excussisse jugum : (^) 

u The Romans had the precaution *to establish a strong post, well 
garrisoned by a body of veterans. VThis was at Gamulodum, in the 
territory of the Trinobantes, now the county of Essex. 

v We read in the annalsj that, as soon as the' death of Ostorius Sca- 
pula was known at Rome, Claudius sent Aulus Didius to succeed to 
b the command. See Annals, b. xii. s. 40. In this tract he is called 
Didius Gallus ; perhaps his name was Aulus Didius Gallus. 

w Monais the isle of Anglesey. It was the asylum of the Druids, 
and the capital of their religious »rites. 

x The general revolt of the Britons, and the massacre of the Ro- 
mans, that followed in consequence of the discontents here painted 
i in* the strongest colours, are related at large in the Annals, b. 
xiv. s.^Sl to 38. 

^y Instead of their own kings, whose power does not appear to have 
^>een sufficiently limited, the Britons now groaned under the oppres- 
sion^ two masters ; namely, the governor of the province, and the 
emperor's procurator. 

2 An allusion to the fate of Varus and his legions, which happened 
in the fortieth year of Augustus, A. U. C. 762, A. D, 9, 



£92 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850- 

4 et flumine, non Oceano, defeadi : sibi patriam, conjuges, 

* parentes : iliis avaritiam et luxuriam caussas belli esse : re- 

* cessuros, ut divus Julius recessisset, modo virtutesmajorum 
i suorum aBrnularentur. Neve prcelii unius aut alterius 
4 eventu pavescerent : plus inpetus, majorem constantiam, 

* penes miseros esse. Jam Britannorum etiam Deos misere- 
€ ri, qui Romanum Ducem absentem, qui relegatum in alia 
4 insula exercitum, detinerent : 'a) jam ipsos, quoddifficili- 
6 mum fuerit, deliberare : porro in ejusmodi consiliis peri- 
' culosius esse deprehendi, quam audere.' 

XVI. His atque talibus invicem instincti, Boadicea, (6) 
generis Regii femina, Duce (neque enim sexum in imperiis 
discernunt) sumpsere universi bellum : ac sparsos per cas- 
tella milites consectati, expugnatis praesidiis, ipsam colo* 
niam invasere, ut sedem servitutis : nee ullum in barbaris 
saevitiae genus omisit ira et victoria. Quod nisi Paulli- 
nus, (c) cognito provinciaB motu, propere fubvenisset, 
ainissa Britannia foret : quam unius praelii fortuna veteri 
patientiae restituit, tenentibus arma plerisque, quos consci- 
entia defectionis et propius ex Legato timor agitabat. Hie 
cum egregius cetera, adroganter in deditos, et, ut suae quo- 
que injuria^ ultor, durius consuleret, missus Petronius Tur- 
pilianus, (d) tamquam exorabilior : et delictis hestium no- 
vus, eoque poenitentias mitior, compositis prioribus, nihil 
ultra ausus, Trebellio Maximo (e) provinciam tradidit. 
Trebellius segnior, et nullis castrorum experiments, co- 
mitate quadam curandi provinciam tenuit. Didicere jam 
barbari quoque ignoscere, vitiis blandientibus ; et interven- 
es civilium armorum praebuit justam segnitiae excusatio- 
■em : sed discordia laboratum : cum adsuetus expeditio- 
nibus miles otio lasciviret. Trebellius, fuga ac latebris 

a Paulinus was then emplo3 T ed in the isle of Anglesey. 

b Boadicea was the daughter of Prasutagus, king of the Icenians. 

€ On the first intelligence of the revolt, and the dreadful slaughter 
that followed, Suetonius Paulinus abandoned the isle of Anglesey, 
and showed at once his conduct and his valour. See Annals y b. xiv. 
s. 31 to 38, 

d Petronius Turpilianus succeeded to the government of Britain, * 
A. II C. 814, having just then closed the year of his consulship. 

e The account of TrebelLus Maximus, given by Tacitus in his 
History, differs a little from what is related in the passage before us. 
Being at variance with Roscius Caelius, an officer of a turbulent spi- 
rit, he was obliged to fly to Vitelhus for protection, A. U. C. 822, A. 
D. 69. Hitt. b. i. s. 60. 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 293 

vitata exercitus ira, indecorus atque humilis, precario mox 
praefuit : ac velut pacti, exercitus licentiam, Dux salutem, 
haec seditio sine sanguine stetit. Nee Vettius Bolanus, (/ ) 
manentibus adhuc civilibus bellis, agitavit Britanniam disci- 
plina : eadem inertia erga hostes, similis petulantia cas- 
trorum : nisi quod innocens Bolanus, et nullis delictis invi- 
sus, caritatem paraverat loco auctoritatis. 

XVII. Sed, ubi cum cetero orbe Vespasianus et Britan- 
niam reciperavit, magni Duces, egregii exercitus, minuta 
hostiutn spes. Et terrorem statim intulit Petilius Ceria- 
lis, (o-) Brigantum civitatem, (h) qua? numerosissima pro- 
vinciae totius perhibetur, adgressus : multa proelia, et ali- 
quando non incruenta: magnamque Brigantum partem aut 
victoria amplexus, aut bello. Et, cum Cerialis quidem al- 
terius successoris curam famamque obruisset, sustinuit quo- 
que molem Julius Frontinus, (i) vir magnus, quantum lice- 
bat, validamque et pugnacem Silurum (/) gentem armis su« 
begit ; super virtutem hostium, locorum quoque difficul- 
tates eluctatus. 

XVIII. Hunc Britannia? statum, (k) has bellorum vices 
media jam aestate transgressus Agricola invenit, cum et 
milites, velut omissa expeditione, ad securitatem, et hostes 
ad occasionem, verterentur. Ordovicum civitas, (J) haud 
multo ante adventum ejus, alam, in finibus suis agentem, 

f Vettius Bolanus, a follower in the train of Vitellius, was appoint- 
ed governor of Britain, A. U. C. 822. Hist. b. ii. s. 65. 

g Petilius Cerealis served, at first, in Britain, under Suetonius Pau- 
linus, Annals,, b. xiv. s. 32. He fought afterwards on the side of 
Vespasian against Vitellius, Hist. iii. s. 59. 

h The Brigantes, inhabited the counties of York, Durham, Cum- 
berland, Westmoreland, and Lancashire. 

i Julius Frontinus had the chief command in Britain, A. U. C. 826. 
He was one of the most eminent men of the age in which he lived ; a 
lawyer cf profound knowledge ; a soldier formed both by theory and 
experience ; and, above all, a man not more distinguished by his ta- 
lents than his virtues. 

j The subjugation of the Silures, a fierce and obstinate enemy, gave 
the Romans quiet possession of the south of Britain. 

k Our author hitherto, like a skilful biographer, has laid himself 
out to prepare the theatre of war, m which Agricola was to make so 
conspicuous a figure. His introduction is intimately connected with 
the enduing narrative. From this place Agricola becomes the grand 
o'iectof attention. He arrived in Britain in the summer, A. U. C, 
831, A D. 78. 

/ The O dovices inhabited the counties of Flint, Denbigh, Caernar- 
von, Merioneth, and Montgomery, in North Wales, 



294 G. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850. 

prope universam obtriverat : eoque initio erecta provin- 
cia ; et, quibus bellum volentibus erat, probare exemplum, 
aut recentis Legati animum opperiri. Turn Agricola, 
qu unquam transacta aestas, sparsi per provinciam numeri, 
praesumpta apud militem iiiius anni quies, tarda et contra- 
ria bellum inchoaturo, et plerisque custodiri suspecta po- 
tius videbatur, ire obviam discrimini statuit : contractisque 
legionum vexillis et modica auxiliorum manu, quia in 
aequum degredi Ordovices non audebant, ipse ante agmen, 
quo ceteris par animus simili periculo esset, erexit aciem : 
caesaque prope universa gente, non ignarus, instandum fa- 
mae, ac, prout prima cesissent, fore universa, Monam insu- 
lam, (m) cujus possessione revocatum Paullinum rebellione 
totius Britanniae, supra memoravi, redigere in potestatem 
animo intendit. Sed, ut in dubiis consiliis, naves deerant : 
ratio et constantia Ducis transvexit. Depositis omnibus 
sarcinis, lectissimos auxiliarium, quibus nota vada, et pa- 
trius nandi usus, quo simul seque et arma et equos re- 
gunt, ita repente inmisit, ut obstupefacti hostes, qui 
classem, qui naves, qui mare exspectabant, nihil arduum 
aut invictum crediderint sic ad bellum venientibus. Ita 
petita pace, ac dedita insula, clarus ac magnus haberi Agri- 
cola : quippe cui ingredienti provinciam, quod tempus alii 
per ostentationem, aut officiorum ambitum, transigunt, la- 
bor et periculum placuisset. Nee Agrkola, prosperitate 
rerum in vanitatem usus, expeditionem aut victoriam voca- 
bat, victos continuisse : ne laureatis (n) quidem gesta pro- 
secutus est: sed ipsa dissimulatione famae famam auxit, 
aestimantibus, quanta futun spe tarn magna tacuisset. 

XIX. Ceterum animorum provincial prudens, simulque 
doctus per aliena experimenta, parum profici armis, si in- 
juriae sequerentur, caussas bellorum statuit excidere. A 
se suisque orsus, primam domum suam coercuit ; quod 
plerisque haud minus arduum est, quam provinciam regere. 
Agere nihil per libertos servosque publicse rei : non stu- 

m Suetonius Paulinus had conquered Anglesey ; but the insurrec- 
tion of the Britons, under Boadicea, did not leave him time to secure 
possession. The invasion by SuetoniU3 was seventeen years before the 
final reduction of the place under the conduct of Agricola. 

n The elder Pliny calls the laurel the messenger of joy and victory, 
being always affixed by the Roman generals to their letters of dis- 
patch after success against the enemy, and also te the spears and ja- 
velins of the soldiers. Pliny, lib. xv, s. 30. 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 295 

diis privatis, nee ex commendatione, aut precibus Centu- 
rionum milites accire, sed optimum quemque fidelissimum 
putare : omnia scire, non omnia exsequi : parvis peccatis 
veniam, magnis severitatem commodare : nee poena sem- 
per, sed saepius poenitentia contentus esse : officiis et ad- 
ministrationibus potius non peccaturos pra?ponere, quam 
damnare, cum peccassent. Frumenti et tributorum exac- 
tionem (o) aequalitate munerum mollire, circumcisis, quae, 
in quaestum reperta, ipso tributo gravius tolerabantur : 
namque per ludibrium adsidere clausis horreis, et emere 
ultro fruinenta, ac vendere pretio cogebantur : (p) devor- 
tia itinerum et longinquitas regionum indicebatur, ut civi- 
tates a proximis hibernis in remota et avia referrent, donee, 
quod omnibus in promptu erat, paucis lucrosum fieret. 

XX. Haec primo statim anno comprimendo, egregiam 
famam paci circumdedit ; quae vel incuria, vel tolerantia 
priorum, haud minus quam bellum timebatur. Sed, ubi 
aestas advenit, (q) contracto exercitu, militum in agmine 
laudare modestiam, disjectos coercere : loca castris (r) 
ipse care : aestuaria ac silvas ipse praetentare : (s) et nihil 



Brotier read frumenti et tributorum auctionem, and understands 
an increase o. tributes. Other editions have exactwntm, meaning the 
severity with w'lich they were exacted. 

p Each province paid to the Romans a tribute of corn, which, in 
general, was paid in kind. In those provinces which had voluntarily 
submitted to the dominion of Rome, the farmer delivered the tenth 
part of Iris crop. This was what in modern phrase is called tythe corn, 
frumentum d cumanum. In the conquered provinces, the Romans 
exacted a gross quantity, fixing the bushel at a stated rate. This was 
called/rwmm/?/.m siipendiarium. Besides those two modes of collect- 
ing, it was further expected that the inhabitants of the several pro- 
vinces should furnish, at a settled price, whatever was required for 
the use of government : this was called purchased corn, frvmentum 
emplum. The provinces were further charged with a supply for the 
use of the proconsul, or governor ; but the price was arbitrary, at the 
"will and pleasure of the governor himself. This was not always paid 
in kind. A composition was made in money, and this was called corn 
at a valuation,// umentum (zstimatum 

q This was the second summer after Agricola arrived in Britain, 
A. U C. 832, A. D. 79. Vespasian died this year on the 24th of 
June : Agricola, from that time, continued to command in Britain 
during the reign of Titus. 

r ?v T any vestiges of Roman camps are still to be seen in various parts 
of En o land. 

s Agrteola, as appears from all circumstances, marched his army 
from Anglesey, which had surrendered to his arms, through North 



296 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850. 

interim apud hostes quietum pati, quo minus subitis excur- 
sions popularetur : atque, ubi satis terruerat, parcendo 
rursus inritamenta pads ostentare. Quibus rebus muitae 
civitates, quae in ilium diem ex aequo egerant, datis obsi- 
dibus, iram posuere, et praesidiis castellisque circumaaae, 
tanta ration e curaque, ut nulla ante Britanniae nova pars in- 
lacessita transient. 

XXI. Sequens hiems saluberrimis consiliis absumpta : 
namque, ut homines dispersi ac rudes, eoque in bello fa- 
ciles, quieti et otio per voluptates adsuescerent, hortari 
privatim, adjuvare publice, ut templa, fora, domus exstrue- 
rent, (t) laudando promptos, et castigando segnes, ita ho- 
noris aemulatio pro necessitate erat. Jam vero Principum 
filios liberalibus artibus erudire, et ingenia Britannorum 
studiis Gallorum anteferre, (u) ut, qui modo linguam Ro- 
manam abnuebant, eloquentiam concupiscerent : inde 
etiam habitus nostri honor et frequens toga : paullatimque 
disctjssum ad delinimenta vitiorum, porticus et balnea et 
conviviorum elegantiam : idque apud inperitos ' humani- 
tas' v ocabatur, cum pars servitutis esset. 

XaII. Tertius expeditionum annus (y) novas gentes 
aperuit, vastatis usque ad Taum (w) (aestuario nomen est) 
nationibus : qua formidine territi hostes, quamquam con- 
flictatum saevis tempestatibus exercitum, lacessere non 
ausi: ponendisque insuper castellis (x) spatium fuit. Ad- 
Wales, on his way to Caledonia. Tacitus does not directly say what 
road he pursued. 

t Gordon, in his Itinerary, has described the remaining vestiges of 
a number of forts on the isthmus between the Forth and the Clyde, 
and also of a town, called Comelon, which, he says, is evidently a Ro- 
man work ; the ruins of ancient houses are still to be seen. 

u La Bletterie, in his note on this passage, is alarmed for the honour 
of his country. He doubts whether Agricola was a competent judge ; 
in all events he appeals from the sentence. Brotier says, it is won- 
derful that Agricola, in rude and savage times, should be able to fore- 
tel the genius of a country, which has since produced Bacon, Milton, 
and Newton, not to mention others of great and illustrious talents. 

v Agricola's third year was A. U. C. 833, A. D. 80. 

w The river Tay issues out of Loch-Tay in Breadalbin, and run- 
ning south-east, passe* the town of Perth, and falls into the German 
Ocean at Dundee, where it is called the Frith of Tay. 

x The principal fort built by Agricola was at Ardoch, in Perth- 
shire, situated so as to command the entrances into two valleys, 
Strathallan and Strathearn. This fort, commanding two extensive 
valleys, seems to prove what Tacitus says, viz. that no general show- 
ed greater skill in the choice of advantageous situations. 



j, c. 9T. AGRICOLA. 231 

notabant periti, non alium Ducem opportumtates locorum 
sapientius legisse : nullum ab Agricola positum castellum 
aut vi hostiumexpugnatum, aut pactione aut fuga desertum. 
Crebrae eruptiones : nam adversus moras obsidionis annuis 
copiis firmabantur : ita intrepida ibi hiems, et sibi quisque 
praesidio, inritis hostibus, eoque desperantibus, quia soliti 
plerumque damna aestatis hibernis eventibus pensare, turn 
aestate atque hieme juxta pellebantur. Nee Agricola urn- 
quam per alios gesta avidus intercepit : seu Centurio, seu 
Praefectus, incorruptum facti testem habebat. Apud quos- 
dam acerbior in conviciis narrabatur, ut bonis comis, ita 
adversus malos injucundus : ceterum ex iracundia nihil 
supererat : secretum et silentium ejus non timeres : ho- 
nestius putabat offendere, quam odisse. 

XXI II. Quarta aestas (y) obtinendis, quae percurrerat, 
msumpta : ac, si virtus exercituum et Romani nominis 
gloria pateretur, inventus in ipsa Britannia terminus. Nam 
Clota (z) et Bodotria, diversi maris aBstibus per inmensum 
revectae, angusto terrarum spatio dirimuntur : quod turn 
prassidiis firmabatur : atque omnis propior sinus tenebatur, 
summotis velut in aliam insulam hostibus. 

XXIV. Quinto expeditionum anno, (a) nave prima trans- 
gressus, (b) ignotas ad id tempus gentes crebris simul ac 
prosperis proeliis domuit : eamque partem Britanniae, 

y Agricola's fourth campaign was A. U. C. 834, A. D. 81. 

z Clota or Clota, and Bodotria, were the names given by Ptolemy 
to those famous sestuaries, or arms of the sea. The Clota is now call- 
ed Clyde, which rises in Annandale, and, after a wide circuit, falls 
into the gulf of Dumbarton, on the western side of Scotland, opposite 
to the isle of Bute. The Bodotria of Ptolemy is the river Forth, 
which rises in Montaith, and, after describing a number of beautiful 
meanders, discharges itself near Edinburgh, into an arm of the Ger- 
man S^a, called the Frith of Forth. 

a Agricola's fifth campaign was in the summer A. U. C. 835, A. 
0.82. 

b We are now to see Agricola penetrating further into North Bri- 
tain ; but the laconic style of the author does not distinctly tell us on 
which side of the country the attempt was made. The commentators 
are much divided about the construction of the words, nave prima 
transgressus ; he sailed in the first ship. Some of them will have it, 
that he embarked in the first ship of his fleet : but we have no ac- 
count of a fleet in readiness for this expedition. The most natural 
and obvious sense is, he crossed the aestuary of the Clyde, in the first 
Roman vessel that was ever seen in those parts. It appears in the 
following section, that Agricola had no fleet till he ordered ships to be 
got in readiness for his sixth campaign. 

27 



998 C. CORN. TAC1TI. a. j. c. 850 

quee Hiberniam adspicit, copiis instruxit, in spem magis. 
quam ob formidinem : si quidem Hibernia, medio inter 
Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita, et Gallico quoque mari 
opportuna, valentissimani Imperii partem magnis invicem 
usibus miscuerit. Spatium ejus, si Britanniae comparetur, 
angustius, nostri maris insulas superat. Solum caelumque 
et ingenia cultusque hominum haud multum a Britannia 
clifferunt, nee in melius. Aditus portusque per commer- 
cia et negotiatores cogniti. Agricoia expulsum seditione 
domestica unura ex Regulis gentis exceperat, ac specie 
amicitiaB in occasionem retinebat. Saepe ex eo audivi, le- 
gione una (c) et modicis auxiliis debellari obtinerique Hi- 
berniam posse, ldque etiam ad versus Britanniam profu- 
turum, si Romana unique arma, et velut e conspectu li- 
bertas tolleretur. 

XXV. Ceterum aestate, qua sextum officii annum (d) in- 
choabat, amplexus civitates trans Bodotriam sitas, quia mo- 
tus universarum ultra gentium, et infesta hostili exercitu 
itinera, timebantur, portus classe exploravit : (e) quae, ab 
Agricoia primum adsumpta in partem viriam, sequebatur 
egregia specie, cum simul terra, simul mari bellum inpelle- 
retur, ac saepe iisdem castris pedes equesque, et nauticus 
miles, mixti copiis et laetitia, sua quisque facta, suos casus 
adtollerent : ac modo silvarum et montium profunda, modo 
tempestatum ac fluctuum adversa, hinc terra et hostis, hinc 
auctus Oceanus militari jactantia compararentur. Britan- 
nos quoque, ut ex captivis audiebatur, visa classis obstupe- 
faciebat, tamquam, aperto maris sui secreto, ultimum vic- 
tis perfugium clauderetur. Ad manus et arma conversi 
Caledoniam incolentes populi, paratu msgno, majore fama, 

c Some of the historians of Ireland seem to be much offended with 
Tacitus, on account of the opinion here advanced ; namely, that one 
legion with a body of auxiliaries, would be sufficient for the conquest 
•f Ireland ; and perhaps they are right. Courage has been, in every 
age, the distinguishing quality of that country. The Roman general 
would have found a people no less fierce and independent than the 
Caledonians; and it is probable, that, among the chieftains, there 
would have been many a Galgacus to stand forth in the cause of li- 
berty. 

d Agricola's sixth campaign was A. U. C. 836, A. D. 83; the se- 
cond year of Domitian's reign. 

e Agricoia, in the third year of his expeditions, had penetrated, 
north of the Forth, as far as the Frith of Tay ; (see section xxii.) but 
we are told by Tacitus, that the country was overrun, not conquered : 
nor was it sufficiently explored. 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA, 299 

uti raos est de ignotis, oppugnasse ultro, castella (/) ador- 
ti, metum, ut provocantes, addiderant : regrediendumque 
citra Bodotriam, et excedendum potius, quam pellerentur, 
specie prudentium ignavi admonebant : cum interim cog- 
noscit, hostes pluribus agminibus inrupturos. Ac, ne supe- 
rante numero et peritia locorum circumiretur, diviso et ipse 
in tres partes exercitu incessit. 

XXVI. Quod ubi cognitum hosti, mutato repente consi- 
lio, universi nonam legionem, ut maxime invalidam, nocte 
adgressi, inter soranum ac trepidationem caesis vigilibus, 
inrupere. (g) Jamque in ipsis castris pugnabant, cum 
Agricola, iter hostium ab exploratoribus edoctus, et vesti- 
giis insecutus, velocissimos equitum peditumque adsultare 
tergis pugnantium jubet, mox ab umversis adjici clamorem ; 
€t propinqua luce fulsere signa : ita ancipiti malo territi 
Bntanni : et Romanis redit animus, ac, securi de salute, pro 
gloria certabant : ultra quin etiam erupere : et fuit atrox 
in ipsis portarum (h) angustiis proelium, donee pulsi hostes *, 
utroque exercitu certante, his, ut tulisse opera, illis, ne 
eguisse auxilio viderentur : quod nisi paludes (i) et silvae 
fugientestexissent, debellatum ilia victoria foret. 

XXVII. Cujus constantia ac fama ferox exercitus, ' ni- 
* hil virtuti suas invium : penetraodam Caledoniam, inve- 
4 niendumque tandem Britanniae terminum continuo proe- 
' liorum cursu,' fremebant : atque illi modo cauti ac sapi- 
entes, prompti post eventum ac magniloqui erant : iniquis- 
sima haBc bellorum conditio est : prospera omnes sibi vhv 
dicant, adversa uni inputantur. At Britanni non virtute, 
sed occasione et arte usos rati, nihil ex adrogantia remit- 
tere, quo minus juventutem armarent, conjuges ac liberos 
in loca tuta transferrent, coetibus ac sacrificiis conspiration 



/ Traces of these forts and castles are still extant in Fifeshire, Perth 
and Strathearn, 

g This battle, Gordon the antiquarian thinks, was fought in the 
county of Fife; and he draws his conclusion from the appearance of 
a Roman camp still to be seen at a place called Loch-Ore, about two 
miles from Loch-Leven. 

h There were four gates to a Roman camp; one on each side of 
the circumference, accessible for the use of the baggage horses, and 
wide in case of a saUy. The gates had their distinct names ; Prceto- 
ridi Decumana, D extra and Sinistra. 

i The marshes and forests that protected the Caledonians Were-, 
most probably y Loch-L even* and the woods that grew around it. 



300 C. CORN. TACIT/. a. v. c. 850. 

nem civitatum sancirent : (j) atque ita inrita is utrimque 
animis discessum. 

XXVIII. Eadem aestate cohors Usipiorum, per Germa- 
nios conscripta, in Britanniam transmissa, magnum ac me- 
morable facinus ausa est. Occiso Centurione ac militi- 
bus, qui, ad tradendam disciplinam inmixti manipulis, (k) 
exemplum et rectores habebantur, tres liburnicas, adactis 
per vim gubernatoribus, ads£endere : et uno remigante, 
suspectis duobus, eoque interfectis, nondum vulgato ru- 
rnore, ut miraculum praevehebantur : mox hac atque ilia 
rapti, et cum plerisque Britannorum, sua defensantium, 
proelio congressi, ac saepe victores, aliquando pulsi, eo ad 
extremum inopiae venere, ut infirmissimos suorum, mox 
sorte ductos, vescerentur. Atque ita circumvecti Britan- 
niam, (/) amissis per inscitiam regendi navibus, pro prae- 
donibus habiti, primum a Suevis, mox a Frisiis intercept! 
sunt : ac fuere, quos per commercia venumdatos, et in 
nostram usque ripam mutatione ementium adductos, indi- 
cium tanti casus inlustravit. (m) Initio aestatis (n) Agri- 
cola, domestico vulnere ictus, anno ante natum filium ami- 
sit. Quern casnm neque, ut plerique fortium virorum. 

j AH public resolutions were formed, among barbarians, at their 
carousing festivals in religious groves. It was in this manner that 
Civilis drew the Batavians and the Germans into a league against 
the Romans. See Hist. iv. s. 14. 

k The Mo.nipuli were companies of foot, as the Turmce were of the 
cavalry. A cohort consisted of sixty companies, ten in each, amount- 
ing in the whole to six hundred men. Each cohort was commanded 
by a centurion. 

I Tacitus has not mentioned the place from which these daring ad- 
venturers put to sea Dio relates the same enterprise, but he also 
omits the port from which the voyage began. From both historians 
it may be fairly collected, that the outset of this desperate voyage 
was either from some port in Galloway, or from Cantire in Argyle- 
shire, where Agricola had stationed his garrisons. The deserters, in 
the course of their voyage, landed at various places, and suifered by 
famine and other disasters, till they reached the eastern coast, where, 
and where only, the Romans were stationed in different encampments. 

m The adventurers, having either sailed northward of the Orcades, 
or through the Pentland Frith, which divides those islands from the 
extremity of Scotland, reached the German Ocean ; and thence, 
through want of skill in navigation, or driven by tempestuous wea- 
ther, arrived at length in the Baltic, (Mare Suevicum) and landed on 
the coast of the Suevians. 

n This was the summer in the year of Rome 837, A.D. 84, wheB 
Agricola opened Iks seventh campaign. 



j. c. 97, AGRICOLA. 301 

ambitiose, neque per lamenta rursus ac maerorem tnulie- 
briter tulit : et in luctu bellum inter reraedia erat. 

XXIX. Igitur praamissa classe, qua? plunbus locis prae- 
data, magnum et incertum terrorem faceret, expedito ex- 
ercitu, cui ex Britannis fortissimos et longa pace explora- 
tos addiderat, ad montem Grampium pervenit, quemjam 
hostes insederant. Nam Britanni, nihil fracti pugnae prio- 
ns eventa, et ultionem aut servitium exspectantes, tandem- 
que docti, commune periculum concordia propulsandura, 
legationibus et fcederibus omnium civitatum vires excive- 
rant. Jamque super triginta millia armatorum adspicie 
bantur, et adhuc adfluebat omnis juventus, et qmbus cruda 
ac viridis senectus, clari bello, ac sua quisque decora ges- 
tantes : cum inter plures Duces virtute et genere praestans, 
nomine Galgacus, (o) apud contractam multitudinem, proe- 
lium poscentem, in hunc modum locutus fertur : 

XXX. ' Quotiens caussas belli et necessitatem nostrum 

* intueor, magnus mihi animus est, hodiernum diem, con- 
1 sensumque vestrum, initium libertatis totius Britanniae 

* fore. Nam et universi servitutis expertes, et nullae ultra 

* terrae, ac ne mare quidem securum, inminente nobis clas- 

* se Romana : ita proelium atque arma, quae fortibus 

* honesta, eadem etiam ignavis tutissima, sunt. Prior se 

* pugnae, quibus adversus Romanos varia fortuna certatum 

* est, spem ac subsidium in nostris manibus habebant : quia 
4 nobilissimi totius Britanniae, eoque in ipsis penetralibus 
1 siti, nee servientium littora adspicientes, oculos quoque 

o In the chronicle of the kings of Scotland, Galgacus is called Gal* 
dus ; of which name, and its etymology, Gordon gives the following 
account ; — Galgacus was latinized by the Romans from two Highland 
appellations, viz. Gald and Cachach ; the first, Gald, being the pro- 
per name, and the second an adjection to it, from the battles he had 
fought ; it signifies the same as prailiosus ; Gald, thejighter of battles ; 
which kind of nick-name is still in use among the Highlanders. In 
the speech ascribed to this gallant chieftain, we have a striking pic- 
ture of Reman oppression. The various arts of those ambitious con- 
querors, and the vices of their government in the several provinces of 
the empire, are painted in glaring colours. The art of compres* 
sin°; in pathetic language, with precision and energy, all the topics 
that can inspire the heart of man with a generous love of liberty, is 
here displayed in full perfection, tt may indeed be doubted whether 
Galgacus spoke what Tacitus has put into his mouth ; but that he 
harangued his men is highly probable. In those days no battle was 
fought without a speech from the general, to rouse and animate th£ 
valour of his army, 

27* 



302 C. CORN. TACITI. a. v. c. 850. 

. ■ a contactu dominationibus inviolatos habebamus. Nos, 
' terrarum ac libertatis extremos, recessus ipse ac sinus 
4 fama? in hunc diem defendit : nunc terminus Britannia? 
r patet : atque omne ignotum pro magnifico est. Sed nulla 
; jam ultra gens, nihil nisi fluctus et saxa : et infestiores 

* Romani : quorum superbiam frustra per obsequium et 

* modestiam effugeris : raptores orbis, postquam cuncta 

* vastantibus defuere terrae, et mare scrutantur : si locu- 

* pleshostis est, avaris si pauper, ambitiosi : quos non Ori- 
4 ens, non Occidens, satiaverit : soli omnium opes atque 
4 inopiam pari adfectu concupiscunt. Auferre, trucidare, 
4 rapere, falsis nominibus' imperium ; * atque, ubi solitudi- 

* nem faciunt,' pacem ' adpellant.' 

XXXI. ' Liberos cuique ac propinquos suos natura ca~ 

* rissimos esse voluit : hi per delectus, alibi servituri, au- 

* feruntur : conjuges sororesque, etsi hostilem libidinem 
6 effugiant : nomine' amicorum ' atque' hospitum 4 pollu- 
1 untur. Bona fortunasque in tributum egerunt ; in anno- 

* nam frumentum : corpora ipsa ac manus, silvis ac paludi- 
1 bus emuniendis, verbera inter ac contumelias, conterunt. 
4 Nata servituti mancipia semel veneunt, atque ultro a do- 
4 minis aluntur : Britannia servitutem suam quotidie emit, 
< quotidie pascit. Ac, sicut in familia recentissimus quis- 
4 que servorum et conservis ludibrio est : sic, in hoc or- 

* bis terrarum vetere famulata, novi nos et viles in excidi- 
4 urn petimur. Neque enim arva nobis, aut metalla, aut 
4 portus sunt, quibus exercendis reservemur. Virtus por- 

* ro ac ferocia subjectorum ingrata imperantibus : et lon- 

* ginquitas ac secretum ipsum quo tutius, eo suspectius. 

* Ita. sublata spe, veniae, tandem sumite animum, tam 

* quibus salus, quam quibus gloria, carissima est. Trino- 

* bantes, Q?) femina Duce, exurere coloniam, expugnare 

* castra, ac, nisi felicitas in socordiam vertisset, exuere 
4 jugum potuere : nos integri et indomiti, et libertatem noa 
1 in praesentia laturi (</) primo statim congressu nonne os- 



p The Trinobantes, or the people of Essex, joined the Icenians in 
the grand revolt under Boadicea. See this Tract, sect. xvi. and An- 
nals, h. xiv. s. 31. 

q This passage has occasioned much controversy among the com- 
mentators ; but those gentlemen are often ingenious to no end but tm 
perplex themselves. The text is susceptible of an easy and obvious 
construction; and it is this: we have been hitherto unsubdued, and 
therefore we are not now to taste of liberty for the first time ; we 
have always enjoyed our rights ; let us preserve them by our valour. 



j. c. 97. AGR1C0LA. 303 

* tendemus, quos sibi Caledonia viros seposuerit ? An earn- 
4 dem Romanis in bello virtutem, quam in pace lasciviam, 
1 adesse creditis ? 

XXXII. 4 Nostris ill! discessionibus ac ctiscordiis elari, 
4 vitia hostium in gloriam exercitas sui vertunt : quern con- 
4 tractum ex diversissimis gentibus, ut secundae res tenent, 
4 ita adversae dissolvent : nisi si Gallos et Germanos et (pu- 
4 det dictu) Britannorum plerosque, licet dominationi 
4 alienae sanguinem commodent, diutius tamen hostes quam 
1 servos, fide et adfectu teneri putatis : metus et terror 
4 est, infirma vincula cantatis : quae ubi removeris, qui 
1 timere desierint, odisse incipient. Omnia victoria? inci- 
4 tamenta pro nobis sunt : nulla? Romanos conjuges accen- 

* dunt : (r) nulli parentes fugam exprobraturi sunt : aut 
4 nulla plerisque patria, aut afia, est : (s) paucos numero, 

* trepidos ignorantia, ccelum ipsum ac mare et silvas, ignota 

* omnia circumspectantes, clausos quodammodo ac vinctos 

* Dii nobis tradiderunt. Ne terreat vanus adspectus et auri 
1 fulgor atque argenti, quod neque tegit, neque vulnerat. (t^ 
c In ipsa hostium acie inveniemus nostras mrnus : agnos- 

3 cent Britanni suam causam : recordabuntur Galli priorem 
1 libertatem : deserent illos ceteri Germani, tamquam nu- 
1 per Usipii (w) reliquerunt. Nee quidquam ultra formidi- 

4 nis : vacua castella, senum coloniae, inter male parentes 
■ et injuste imperantes, aegra municipia et discordantia : 
4 hie Dux, hie exercitus : ibi tributa et metalla et cetera? 

r In consequence of the military system of the Romans, the soldiers 
remained in a state of celibacy. Severus owed the imperial dignity 
to the legions ; and to mark his gratitude, gave them leave to marry, 
and, by that and other indulgences, relaxed, and well nigh ruined, the 
discipline of the army. 

s The conquered provinces furnished auxiliaries, and the legions 
were often recruited by levies raised in distant parts of the empire. 
Those soldiers were not interested in the cause of Rome : their na- 
tive country was in different and remote places. 

t The good sense, no less than the spirit, of the Caledonian war- 
rior is seen in this remark. Livy has a similar passage. The plume 
and crest of the enemy can inflict no wound ; the Roman javelin can 
pierce the painted shield; and the ranks of war, that display their 
glittering mantles, when attacked sword in hand, are soon discoloured 
with blood. Livy, lib. x. s. 39. 

u The Usipians were auxiliaries from Germany, engaged in the 
quarrels of Rome ; but not feeling themselves interested in the cause, 
they determined to return to their own country, and with that design, 
committed themselves to the mercy of the winds and waves. Bee 
this Tract? s. 23. 



B04 C. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 85& 

4 servientium poenae : quas in aeternum perferre, aut sta- 
i tim ulcisci, in hoc campo est. Proinde, ituri in aciem, 

* etmajores vestros et posteros cogitate.' 

XXXIII. Excepere orationem alacres et barbari moris 
cantu et fremitu clamoribusque dissonis. Jamque agmina 
et armorum fulgores, audentissimi cujusque procursu : si- 
mul instruebantur acies : cum Agricola, quamquam laetura 
et vix munimentis coercitum niilitem adhortatus, ita dis- 
seruit : 4 Octavus annus (v) est, commilitones, ex quo vir~ 

* tute et auspiciis Imperii Romani fide atque opera vestra 
c Britanniam vicistis : tot expeditionibus, tot proeliis, seu 

* fortitudine adversus hostes, seu patientia ac labore, paene 

* adversus ipsam rerum naturam opus fuit : neque me mili* 
i turn, neque vos Ducis poenituit. Ergo egressi, ego veterum 
6 Legatorum, vos priorum exercituum terminos, (w) finem 

* Britanniae, non fama r nec rumore, sed castris et armis te- 
; nemus. Inventa Britannia, et subacta. Equidem saspe 

* in agmine, cum vos paludes montesve et flumina fatiga- 
; rent, fortksimi cujusque voces audiebam,' Q,uando dabitur 
hostis, quando acies ? ' Veniunt, e latebris suis extrusi : 

* et vota virtusque in aperto, omniaque prona victoribus, 

* atque eadem victis adversa. Nam, ut superasse tantum 

* itineris, silvas evasisse, transisse aestuaria, pulchrum ac 

* decorum in frontem ; ita fugientibus periculosissima, quae 
? hodie prosperrima sunt. Neque enim nobis aut locorum 

* eadem notitia, aut commeatuum eadem abundantia : sed 
1 manus et arma et in his omnia, (x) Quod ad me adtinet, 
'jampridem mihi decretum est, neque exercitus^ neque 

* Ducis terga tuta esse. Proinde et honesta mors turpi 

* vita potior ; et incolumitas ac decus eodem loco sita 
'sunt: nee inglorium fuerit, in ipso terrarum ac naturae 

* fine cecidisse. 

XXXIV. i Si novae gentes atque ignota acies constitisset, 

* aliorum exercituum exemplis vos hortarer : nunc vestra 
9 decora recensete, vestros oculos interrogate. Ii sunt, 

* quos proximo anno, unam legionem furto noctis adgressos, 

v There is here a small mistake, the error perhaps of the copyist ; 
as this, in fact, was Agricola's seventh campaign. 

w Under all former commanders, the scene of action was in that 
part of Britain called England. Agricola was the first Roman gene- 
ral that carried his \ ictorious arms into Caledonia, and reduced that 
Whole country as far as the Frith of Tay. 

x Livy has a similar sentiment. The soldiers, he says, fixed their 
«yes on their arms and the swords in their hands, which they consi- 
dered as their only hope* Lib. v. s. 42/ 



J. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 305 

•clamore debellastis : (y) ii ceterorum Britannorum fuga- 
'cissimi, ideoque tarn diu superstites. Quomodo silvas 
1 saltusque penetrantibus fortisssmum quodque animal con- 
1 tra mere pavida et inertia ipsos agminis sono, pelluntur : 
' sic acerrimi Britannorum jam pridem ceciderunt : refi- 
4 quus est numerus ignavorum et metuentium : quos quod 
■ tandem invenistis ; non restiterunt, sed deprehensi sunt: 
1 novissime res et extremo metu corpora defixere in his 

* vestigiis, in quibus pulchram et spectabilem victoriam 
1 ederetis. Transigite cum expeditkmibus : inponite quin- 

# quaginta annis (2) magnum diem : adprobate Reipublicas 
1 numquam exercitui inputari potuisse, aut moras belli, aut 

• caussas rebellancuV 

XXXV. Et adloquente adhuc Agricola militum ardor 
eminebat, et finem oratienis ingens alacritas consecuta est. 
statimque ad arma discursum. Instinctos ruentesque ita 
disposuit, (a) ut peditum auxilia, quae octo millia erant, 
mediam aciem firmarent, equit«m tria millia cornibus ad- 
funderentur : legiones pro vallo stetere, ingens victoria? 
decus citra Romanum sanguinem bellanti, et auxilium, &i 
pellerentur. Britannorum acies, in speciem simul ac ter- 
rorem, editioribus locis constiterat ita, ut primum agmen 
aequo, ceteri per acclive jugum connexi velut insurge- 
rent ; media campi covinarius et eques strepit ac discursu 
complebat. (6) Turn Agricola, superante hostium multi- 
tudine, veritus, ne simul in frontem, simul et latera suorum 

y An account of this attack, in which the legion, if Agricola had 
not arrived in time, would probably have been cut to pieces, is given 
in this Tract, sect. xxvi. 

a Aulus Plautius undertook his expedition into Britain, A. U. C. 
796. From that time to the battle now impending, one or two and 
forty years had elapsed; Agricola did not think an exact statement- 
necessary ; he was speaking to the passions, and therefore used an 
oratorical amplification. 

a We are now on the point of a great and decisive action. The 
motives that incite both armies have been displayed with energy. 
On one side, the liberty of a people is depending ; on the other, the 
iate of the Roman army. The order in which the combatants were 
drawn up, is now presented to us, but with the usual brevity of Ta- 
citus. 

b From this passage it is evident, that while the Caledonians kept 
their post on the Grampian hill, and the adjacent heights, the plain 
was wide enough for the charioteers and cavalry; but, in the heat of 
the engagement, they were drawn into narrow passes, where they 
could no longer act with vigour, 



306 6. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850. 

pugnaretur, diductis ordinibus, quamquam porrectior acies 
futara erat, et * arcessendas' plerique ' legiones' admone- 
bant, promptior in spem, et firmus adversis, dimisso equo 
pedes ante vexilla constitit. 

XXXVI. Ac primo congressu eminus certabatur : simul 
constantia, simul arte Britanni, ingentibus gladiis et brevi- 
bus cetris, (c) missilia nostrorum vitare, vel excutere, at- 
que ipsi magnam vim telorum superfundere : donee Agri- 
cola tres Batavorum cohortes (d) ac Tungrorum duas co- 
hortatus est, ut rem ad mucrones ac manus adducerent : 
quod et ipsis, vetustate militiae, exercitatum, et hostibus 
inhabile, parva scuta et enormes gladios gerentibus : nam 
Britannorum gladiis sine mucrone (e) complexum armorum, 
et in aperto pugnam non tolerabant. Igitur, ut Batavi mis- 
cere ictus, ferire umbonibus, ora foedare, et stratis qui in 
aequo obstiterant, erigere in colles aciem coepere, ceterse 
oohortes, aemulatione et inpetu commistae, proximos quos- 
que casdere : ac plerique semineces, aut integri, festina- 
tione victorias, relinquebantur. Interim equitum turmse 
fugere, covinarii (/) peditum se proelio miscuere : et, 
quamquam recentem terrorem intulerant, densis tamen 

c These targets, were made of oziers, or boards, covered over with 
leather. The Caledonians, who fought on this occasion, left the fa- 
shion of their armour, as well as an example of courage, to late pos- 
terity. The broad sword and target are well known to have been, 
in modern times, the peculiar arms of the Highlanders. 

d The Batavians, after their revolt under Civilis, which ended 
A. U. C. 823, A. D 70. (see Hist. b. v. s. i>6,) renewed their ancient 
friendship with the Romans. Several inscriptions on altars, having 
Cohors prima Batavorum engraved on them, have been dug up in the 
north of England. 

e Brotier observes, from Vegetius, b. i. s. 12, that the Britons 
fought with the edge of their sword, and cut and hewed the enemy. 
The Romans on the contrary, made use of the point, and, in close en- 
gagement, had greatly the advantage. 

/ The British warrior in his chariot is here called Covinarius^ the 
driver of a covinus. The name used by Caesar for the Britons' war- 
like chariot is esseda. Their way of fighting in those vehicles, he 
tells us, is as follows ; they first drive round all parts of the lines, 
throwing their darts, and, by the very terror of their horses, and the 
rattling of their wheels, disordering the ranks of the enemy. When 
they have forced their way into the body of the cavalry, they leap 
from their chariots, and fight on foot. Meanwhile the drivers retire 
a little way from the combat, and place themselves in such a manner 
as to favour the retreat of their comrades, should they be overpow- 
ered by the enemy. Bell. Gall. lib. iv. s. 33. Duncan's Cmar % \* vp 



j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. SOT 

hostium agminibus et inaequalibus locis hserebant : mini- 
roeque equestris ea pugnae facies erat, cum aegre diu stan- 
tes, simul equorum corporibus inpellerentur, ac saepe va« 
gi currus, exterriti sine rectoribus equi, ut quemque formi- 
do tulerat, transversos, aut obvios incursabant. 

XXX VII. Et Britaani, qui adhuc pugnaB expertes sum- 
ma collium insederant, et paucitatem nostrorum vacui sper- 
nebant, degredi paullatim, et circumire terga vincentium 
coeperant : ni id ipsimi veritus Agricola, quatuor equitum 
alas, ad subita belli retentas, venientibus opposuisset. 
quantoque ferocius accurerant, tanto acrius pulsos in fu- 
gam disjecisset. lta consilium Britannorum in ipsos ver- 
sus : transvectaeque praecepto Ducis a fronte pugnantium 
alae, aversam hostium aciem invasere. Turn vero patenti- 
bus locis grande et atrox spectaculum : sequi, vulnerare. 
capere atque eosdem, oblatis aliis, trucidare. (g) Jam 
hostium, prout cuique ingenium erat, catervae armatorum 
paucioribus terga praestare, quidam inermes ultro ruere, 
ac se morti offerre. Passim arma et corpora et laceri ar- 
tus et cruenta humus : et aliquando etiam victis ira virtus- 
que : postquam silvis adpropinquarunt, coiilecti. primos 
sequentium, incautos et locorum ignaros, circumvenieb«nt. 
Quod ni frequens ubique Agricola validns et expeditas co^ 
hortes, indaginis modo, et, sicubi arctiora er<mt, partem 
equitum, dimissis equis, simul rariores silvas equitem pi -r- 
sultare jussisset, acceptum aliquod vulnus per nimi *m htiu- 
ciam foret. Ceterum, ubi compositos firmis ordinibus se- 
qui rursus videre, in fugam versi, non agminibus, ut prius, 
nee alius alium respectantes, rari et vitabundi invicem, lon- 
ginqua atque avia petiere : finis sequendi nox et satietas 
fuit, caesa hostium ad decern millia : nostrorum trecenti 
sexaginta cecidere : in quis Aulus Atticus, (/i) Praefectus 
cohortis, juvenili ardore et ferocia equi hostibus inlatus. 

g Longinus has observed, that banishing copulatives is a great help 
to the grandeur of a sentence : when conjunction? are artfully dis- 
carded, the periods are poured along in such a manner that they seem 
to outstrip the thought of the speaker, He cites a passage in Xenophon 
as an example ; closing their shields together, they were pushed, they 
fought, they slew, they were slain. In describing the rout of Cati- 
line's army, Sallust says, they fled, they were followed, they were 
killed, they were taken— Scqni, fugere, occidi, capi. Tacitus saw 
the hurry, the force, the rapidity of the disjointed words in Sallust, 
and thought the passage worthy of imitation. 

h Aulus Atticus was probably the preefect of a Tungrian cehort 



S08 C. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850 

XXX VIII. Et nox quidem gaudio praedaque laeta victori- 
bus : Britanni palantes, mixtoque virorum mulierumque 
ploratu, trahere vulneratos, vocare integros, deserere do- 
mos ac per iram ultro ineendere : eligere latebras et statim 
relinquere : miscere invicem consilia aliqua, dein sepa- 
rare : aliquando frangi adspectu pignorum suorum, saepius 
concitari: satisque constabat, saevisse quosdam in conjuges 
ac liberos, tamquam misererentur. (i) Proximus dies fa- 
ciem victoriae latius aperuit : vastum ubique silentium, se- 
creti collesj fumantia procul tecta, nemo exploratoribus ob- 
vius : quibus in omnem partem dimissis, ubi incerta fugae 
vestigia, neque usquam conglobari hostes compertum, et 
exacta jam aestate spargi bellum nequibat ; in fines Hores- 
torum exercitum deducit. Ibi acceptis obsidibus, prasfecto 
classb 4 circumvehi Britdnniam (j) prascepit : dataB ad id 
vires, et praecesserat terror : ipse peditem atque equites 
lento itinere, quo novarum gentium animi ipsa transitus 
mora terrerentur, in hibernis locavit Et simul classis se- 
cunda tempestate ac fama Trutulensem portum (k) tenuit. 
unde proximo latere BritanniaB lecto omni redierat. 

XXXIX. Hunc rerum cursum, quamquam nulla verbo- 
rum jactantia epistolis Agricolas auctum, ut Domitianus 
erat, fronte lastus, pectore anxius, excepit. inerat consci- 
entia, derisui fuisse nuper falsura e Germania trium- 
pbum, (/) emptis per commercia, quorum habitus et crines 

i This picture of rage and despair, of tenderness, fury, and the tu- 
, mult of contending passions, has all the fine touches of a master who 
had studied human nature. It often happens, that in the last extre- 
mity of despair, the mind is fired with sudden courage. Rather than 
fall with tarns resignation, it rouses all its force, and by one vigorous 
effort, endeavours to signalize itself even in ruin. 

j This circumnavigation is not related with sufficient accuracy. 
Agricola heard of the bold adventure of the Usipians (see sect xxviii.) 
and resolved to gain further information ; but the place from which 
his fleet set out on the voyage, is not mentioned. 

k The fleet in the mean time, sailed round the extremity of the 
island, and, having pursued the voyage along the western coast, and 
through the British Channel, arrived at Sandwich, called in the text 
Port us Trululensis, probably by an error of the copyist, as the real 
name is Rutuptnsis, or Rutupinus. 

i While Agricola was thus employed in extending the limits of the 
empire, and securing his conquests as far as the neck of land between 
the Forth and the Clyde, by a chain of forts and garrisons, Domilian 
(A. U. C. 037. A D. 34) went on his mock expedition into Germany, 
and returned without seeing the face of an enemy. 



3. c> 97. AGRICOLA. 309 

in captivorum speciem formarentur : at nunc veram mag- 
namque victoriam, tot millibus hostium caesis, ingenti fama 
celebrari. Id sibi maxime formidolosum, privati hominifi 
nomen supra Principis adtolli : frustra studia fori et crvi- 
lium artium decus in silentium acta, si militarem gloriam 
alius occuparet : et cetera utcumque facilius dissimulari : 
Ducis boni Jmperatoriam virtutem esse, Talibus curis ex- 
ercitus, quodque saevae cogitationis indicium erat, secreto 
suo satiatus, optimum in praesentia statuit, reponere odium, 
donee inpetus famae et favor ^xercitus languesceret : (m) 
nam etiam turn Agricola Britanniam obtinebat. 

XL. Igitur * triumphalia ornaments (n) et inlustris sta« 
* tuae honorem et quidquid pro triumpho datur,' multo 
verborum Jhonore cumulata, decerni in Senatu jubet : ad- 
ditque insuper opinionem, Syriam provinciam Agricola? 
destinari, vacuam turn morte Atilii Rufi, Consularis, et ma- 
joribus reservatam. Creciidere plerique, libertum ex se- 
cretioribus ministeriis missum ad Agricolam, codicillos, 
quibus ei Syria dabatur, tulisse, cum praecepto, ut, si in 
Britannia foret, traderentur : eumque libertum in ipso 
freto (o) Oceani obvium Agricolae, ne adpellato quidem eo 9 
ad Domitianum remeasse : sive verum istud, sive exinge- 
nio Principis fictum ac compositum est. Tradiderat inte- 
rim Agricola successori suo provinciam quietam tutam- 



m Pliny in his Panegyric on Trajan, has given a striking picture 
of Domitian in his dark retreat. That savage beast was shut up as 
it were in a den, where he quaffed the blood of his relations; and 
when he came forth, it was to riot in the destruction of the best and 
most illustrious citizens. Dismay and terror obstructed his door ; 
and they, who were excluded, were as much in danger as those that 
gained admittance. The tyrant was horrible to the sight, and his 
approach was dreadful : pride in his aspect ; anger in his eye ; a fe- 
minine whiteness over his whole body ; and in his countenance an air of 
arrogance, flushed with the deepest red. No man dared to approach 
him ; none could speak to him ; he remained in darkness brooding 
mischief, and never came forth from his solitude, but to make a worse 
solitude by the destruction of eminent men. Punegyr. Traj. sect, 
xlviii. 

n A real triumph, after the downfal of the republic, was reserved 
for the emperor only. The title of Jmperator was assumed by the 
prince. At first it meant no more than General in Chief; but, as 
all power was centered in him, the word, in process of time, implied 
what is now understood by the appellation of Emperor* 

o The straits of Dover. 

m 



3l»- &. CORN. TACITI. a. u. c. 850. 

que. (p) Ac, ne notabilis celebritate et frequentia occur- 
rentimn introitus esset, vitato amicorum officio, noctu in ur- 
bem, noctu in palatium, ita ut praeceptum erat, venit : ex- 
ceptusque brevi osculo, et nullo sermone, turbae servien- 
tium inmixtus est. Ceterum,ut militare nomen, grave inter 
otiosos, aliis virtutibus temperaret, tranquillitatem atque 
otium penitus auxit, cultu moclicus, sermone facilis, uno aut 
altero amicorum comitatus : adeo ut plerique, quibus mag- 
nos viros per ambitionem aestimare mos est, viso adspecto- 
que Agricola, quaererent famam, pauci interpretarentur 

XLI. Crebro per eos dies apud Domitianura absens ad- 
eusatus, absens absolutus est : caussa periculi non crimen 
milium, aut quasrela laesi cujusquam, sed infensus virtutibus 
Princeps, et gloria viri, ac pessimum inimicorum genus, 
laudantes. (y) Et ea insecuta sunt Reipublicse tempora, 
quae sileri Agricolam non sinerent : tot exercitus in Mcesia 
Daciaque, etGermaniaPannoniaque, temeritate aut per ig- 
naviam Ducum amissi : (r) tot militares viri cum tot co- 
hortibus expugnati et capti : nee jam de limite Imperii et 
ripa, (s) sed de hibernis legionum et possessione dubita- 
ium. Ita, cum damna damnis continuarentur, atque omnis 
annus funeribus et cladibus insigniretur, poscebatur ore 
vulgi Dux Agricola : comparantibus cunctis vigorem, con- 
stantiam et expertum bellis animum, cum inertia et formi- 
dine ceterorum. Quibus sermonibus satis constat Domitia- 
ni quoque aures verberatas, dum optimus quisque liberto- 
rum amore et fide, pessimi malignitate et iivore, pronum 

p Agricola resigned the command A. U. C. 838, A. D. 85. 

q Among artful and insidious courtiers, those, who are lavish of 
praise, are often the most inveterate enemies. Tacitus, in another 
part of his work, gives the reason : under a bad prince, a great name 
is as dangerous as a bad one. Praise a man, in the presence of a ty- 
rant, for his popular virtues, and his ruin is sure to follow. 

r These various disasters happened in the years of Rome 840 and 
841. Oppius Sabinus, a man of consular rank, was defeated by the 
Dacians in Maesia ; the legions under him were put to the sword; 
the general's head was cut off, and exhibited on a pole, a public spec- 
tacle for the barbarians. In another engagement with the same ene- 
my, Cornelius Fuscus met with a total defeat. In Germany and 
Pannonia various battles were fought with doubtful success, and 
great effusion of Roman blood. Suetonius has recorded these events, 
but in his usual style, content with a dry statement of facts. See the 
Life of Domitian, sect. vi. 

s The Rhine and the Danube were, at this time, the boundaries 
that divided G ermany from the Roman empire. 






j. c. 97. AGRICOLA. 3H 

deterioribus Principem exstimulabant. Sic Agricola siinul 
suis virtutibus, simul vitiis aliorum, in ipsam gloriam prae - 
ceps agebatur. 

XLII. Aderat jam annus, quo Proconsulatum {t) Asias 
et Africae sortiretur, et occiso Civica nuper, nee Agricolae 
consilium deerat, nee Domitiano exemplum. Accessere 
quidam cogitationum Principis periti, qui, iturusne esset in 
provinciam, ultro Agricolam interrogarent : ac primo oc- 
cultius quietem et otium laudare, mox operam suam in ad^- 
probanda excusatione offerre : postremo non jam obscuri, 
suadentes simul terrentesque, pertraxere ad Domitianum : 
qui paratus simulationi, in adrogantiam compositus, et audiit 
preces excusantis, et, cum adnuisset, agi sibi gratias passus 
est : nee erubuit beneficii invidia : (w) salarium tamen, 
Proconsulari solitum offerri, et quibusdam a seipso con- 
cessum, Agricolas non dedit ; {y) sive offensus non petitum, 
sive ex conscientia, ne, quod vetuerat, videretur emisse. 
Proprium humani ingenii est, odisse, quern laeseris : Do- 
mitiani vero natura praeceps in iram. et, quo obscurior, eo 
inrevocabilior, (w) moderatione tamen prudentiaque Agri* 



t In the several provinces which were left by Augustus under the 
management of the senate, the governors, according to ancient usage, 
were changed at the end of the year. The senators, who had five 
years before discharged the office either of consul or praetor, had a 
right to be candidates for the employment. The senate named a 
competent number, and the persons so elected drew lots for their pro- 
vinces, and, whether consuls or praetors, they were without distinc- 
tion, called by the general title of proconsular governors. 

u Under the worst of the emperors, men were obliged, by a refine- 
ment in tyranny, to receive injuries, and to be grateful for them. Ta- 
citus mentions several persons, who were injured in their rights, and 
yet, being inured to slavery, they returned thanks to Vitellius. Hist, 
lib. ii. s. 71. Seneca relates the answer of an old courtier, when he 
was asked how he arrived at a thing so uncommon among the attend- 
ants of princes as a sound old age? It was, replied the veteran, by re- 
ceiving injuries, and returning thanks. De Ira, lib. ii. sect. 3. 

v In the time of the old republic, the governors of provinces served 
their country without any salary annexed to their office. It was 
seen, however, by Augustus, that, by an unprofitable and gratuitous 
service, men were exposed to various temptations ; and, accordingly, 
that emperor, to leave avarice and rapacity without an excuse, esta- 
blished a regular allowance for each different province. 

w Hatred is always a dark, a covered, and a lurking passion ; the 
more concealed, the more implacable : so it was with Domitian, and 
we have seen the same feature of character in Tiberius. Annals, b. 
s.43. 



%KB C. CORN. TACITI, a. u. c. 850. 

<x>Iae leniebatur : quia non contumacia, neque inani jacta- 
tione libertatis, famam fatumque provocabat. Sciant, qui- 
busmoris, inlicita mirari, posse etiara sub malis Principibus 
magnos viros esse : obsequiumque ac modestiam, si indur- 
tria ac vigor adeint, eo laudis excedere, quo plerique per 
abrupta, sed in nullum Reipublicae usum> ambitiosa morte 
foclaruerunt. 

XLIII. Finis vitse ejus nobis luctuostts, amicis tristis, 
extraneis etiam ignotisque non sine cura fuit. Vulgus 
quoque, et hie aliud agens populus, et ventitavere ad do- 
mum, et per fora et circulos locuti sunt : nee quisquam, 
audita morte Agricolae, aut laetatus est, aut statim oblitus. 
Augebat miserationem constans rumor, ' veneno intercep- 
i turn.' (x) Nobis nihil comperti adfirmare ausim : cete- 
rum per omnem valetudinem ejus, crebrius quam ex more 
Principatus, per nuntios visentis, et libertorum primi, et 
medicorum intirni venere : sive cura illud, sive inquisitio 
erat. Supremo quidem die, momenta deficientis per dis- 
positos cursores nuntiata constabat, nullo credente, sic ac- 
celerari, quae tristis audiret* Speciem tamen doloris ani- 
aio vultuque prae se tulit, securus jam odii, et qui facilius 
dissimularet gaudium, quam metum. Satis constabat, lec- 
to testamento Agricolae, quo coheredem optima^ uxori et 
piissimae tiliae Domitianum scripsit, laetatum e*im, velut 
honore jud.icioque : tarn cseca et eonrupta mens adsiduis 
adulationibus erat, ut nesciret, a bono patre non acribi he- 
redem, nisi malum Principem. 

XLIV. Natus erat Agricola, Caio Caesare tertium Con- 
sole IdibusJuniis : excessit sexto et quinquagesimo anno, 
(y) decimo Galendas Septembres Collega Priscoque coss. 

x From the manner iu which Tacitus states this charge, it may be 
inferred that he gave no credit to it ; and yet Dio does not hesitate to 
confirm the story. Suetonius is silent on the subject. But the Greek 
historian is often bold in assertion, and frequently deficient in point of 
truth, or historical evidence. If we believe him, Agricola, after his 
return from the conquest of Britain, passed the remainder of his days 
in distress and poverty : but Tacitus on the contrary, assures us, that, 
though he did not possess immoderate wealth, he enjoyed a decent 
affluence. The Roman historian had the best means of information. 

y There seems, in this plac2, to be some mistake, not, however, 
imputable to Tacitus, but, more probably, to the transcribers, who 
in their manuscript might easily write LV1. instead of LI V. Caligu- 
la's third consulship was A. U. C. 793, A.D. 40. Agricola was born 
on the 13th of June in that year ; he died on the 10th of the calends 



j.c.Off. AGRICOLA. 313 

Quod si habitum quoque ejus posteri noscere velint ; de* 
centior quam sublimior fuit : nihil metus in vultu : gratia 
©ris supererat : bonum virum facile crederes, magnum li- 
benter. Et ipse quidem, quamquam medio in spatio inte*- 
grae astatk ereptus, quantum ad gloriam, longissimum aBvum 
peregit. Quippe et vera bona, quae in virtutibus sita sunt, 
inpleverat, et Consularibus ac triumpbalibus ornamentis 
prsedito, quid aliud adstruere fortuna poterat ? Opibus ni- 
miis non gaudebat ; speciosae contigerant : filia atque ux- 
•re superstitibus, potest videri etiam beatus ; incolumi dig- 
nitate,florente fama, salvis adfinitatibus et amicitiis. futura 
effugisse. Nam, sicuti durare in hac beatissimi saeculi luce, 
ac Principem Trajanum (2) videre, quodam augurio votis- 
•[ue apud nostras aures ominabatur : ita festmatae mortis 
grande solatium tulit, eyasisse postremum illud tempus, 
quo Domitianus, non jam per intervalla ac spiramenta tem- 
porum, sed continuo et velut uno ictu, Rempublicam ex- 
hausit. (a) 

XLV. Non vidit Agricola obsessam curiam, et clausum 
armis Senatum, (b) et eadem strace tot Consularium csedes, 
tot nobilissiroarum feminarum exsilia et fugas. Una adhuc 
Tictoria Carus Metius censebatur, et intra Albanam arcem 
sententia Messalini strepebat, et Massa Bebius jam turn 
reus erat Mox nostrae duxere Helvidium in carcerem 
manuj : nos Maurici Rusticique (c) divisus, nos innocenti 

of September ; that is the 23d of August* in the consulship of Pom- 
peius Collega and Cornelius Priscus, A. U. C. 846, A. D. 93. Ac- 
cording to this account, Agricola^ on the 13th of June, A. U. C. 846, 
entered on the fifty-fourth year of his age, and died in the month of 
August following. It is, therefore, probable, that the copyists, as al- 
ready observed, inserted in their manuscript fifty-six for fifty-four. 

2 From the passage before us there is reason to conclude, that this 
Tract was published, when Trajan was in possession of fche imperial 
dignity. 

a Seneca gives the same account of Caligula ; a man who meditat- 
ed the destruction of the whole senate, who wished that the Roman 
people had but one neck, that he might glut his love of blood at 
a single stroke. De Ira^ lib. iii. s. 19. 

b In a short time after the death of Agricola, towards the end of the 
year of Rome 846, the rage of Domitian broke out with collected vio- 
lence, and like a tempest swept away numbers of both sexes, all dis- 
tinguished by their virtues no less than by their illustrious rank. 

c Mauricus and Arulenus Rustious were brothers, united not only 
by the ties of natural affection, but by their manners and congenial 
virtues. They were cruelly separated in the sight of the senate* 
when Rusticus was hurried away to execution, aod MauriQUt or^ex- 
ad into banishment. 



314 «. CORN. TACIT1. a. u. c. 850. 

sanguine Senecio (d) perfudit. Nero tamen subtraxit ocu- 
los, jussitque scelera, non spectavit : praecipua sub Domi- 
4iano miseriarum pars erat, videre et adspici : cum suspiria 
nostra subscriberentur : cum denotandis tot hominum pal- 
loribus sufficeret saevus ille vultus et rubor, (e) quo se con- 
tra pudorem muniebat. Tu vero felix, Agricola, non vitae 
tantum claritate, sed etiam opportunitate mortis fut perhi- 
bent, qui interfuerunt novissimis sermonibus tuis) constans 
et libens fatum excepisti ; tamquam pro virili portione in- 
nocentiam Principi donares. Sed mihi filiaeque, praeter 
acerbitatem parentis erepti, auget maestitiam, quod adsidere 
valetudini, fovere deficientem, satiari vultu, complexu, non 
eontigit : excepissemus certe mandata vocesque, quas pe- 
nitus animo figeremus. Noster hie dolor, nostrum vulnus : 
nobis tarn longae absentiae conditione ante quadriennium 
amissus es. (/) Omnia sine dubio, optime parentum, ad- 
sidente amantissima uxore, superfuere honor! tuo : pauci- 
oribus tamen lacrimis compositus es, et novissima in luce 
desideravere aliquid oculi tui. 

XLVL Si quis piorum manibus locus ; si, ut sapientibus 
placet, non cum corpore exstinguuntur magnae animae : (g) 

d The senate, amidst all these tragic issues, sat without voice or 
sentiment ; a timid and speechless assembly, as Pliny has it, Curia 
timida et e Unguis. They submitted, with passive obedience, to the 
tyrant's will ; and therefore Tacitus says that their hands were im- 
brued in the blood of Senecio. See sect. ii. 

e Domitian's complexion was of so deep a red that nothing could 
add to his natural colour, and he was therefore said by Pliny to be a 
man of unblushing arrogance. See sect, xxxix. note (m.) . 

/ Tacitus and his wife, at the time of Agricola's death, had been 
four years absent from Rome ; on what account we are no where 
told. Some critics suppose, that he was banished by Domitian ; but 
this seems to be without foundation. 

g Tacitus, in this place, speaks hypothetically, but with an appa- 
rent disposition to embrace the system of the best and wisest men, 
and, it may be added, the persuasion of mankind in every age and 
nation. That the soul of man is not extinguished with his animal 
life, but passes, in that awful moment, into some new region of ex- 
istence, or transmigrates into some other being, has been, at all times, 
the opinion, or the conjecture, or the wish, ©f the rudest and most sa- 
vage tribes ; and this universal consent, Cicero observes in the first 
Tusculan, is the law of nature speaking in the human heart. If the 
immortality of the soul was not a settled article of the creed of Ta-^ 
citus, at a time when the light of revelation was not yet diffused over 
the Christian world, it is however probable, that he, who possessed a 
comprehensive and sublime understanding, was not content with the 



j. c> 97. AGRICOLA. 315 

placide quiescas, nosque, domum tuam, ab intirmo desiderio, 
et muliebsibus lainentis, ad contemplationem virtutum 
tuarum voces, quas neque lugeri, neque plangi fas est : ad- 
miratione te potius, temporalibus laudibus, et, si na- 
tura suppeditet, aemulatu decoremus. (h) Is verus ho- 
nos, ea conjunctissimi cujnsque pietas. Id filiae quoque, 
uxorique praeceperim, sic patris, sic mariti memoriam ve- 
nerari, ut omnia facta dictaque ejus secum revolvant, fa- 
mamque ac figuram animi magis quam corporis, complec- 
tantur : non quia intercedendum putem imaginibus, quae 
marmore aut 33 re iinguntur : sed ut vultus hominum, ita 
simulacra vultus inbecilla ac mortalia sunt ; forma mentis 
aeterna : quam tenere et exprimere, non per alienam mate- 
riam et artem, sed tuis ipse moribus, possis. Quidquid ex 
Agricola amavimus, quidquid mirati sumus, manet mansu- 
rumque est in animis hominum, in aeternitate temporum., 
fama rerum. Nam multos veterum, velut inglorios et ig- 
nobiles, oblivio obruet : (i) Agricola, posteritati narratus 
et traditus, superstes erit. 

grovelling notion of falling into nothing, but aspired, and wished, and 
hoped, to enjoy a future state of immortality. He was conscious of 
the dignity of human nature, and thence proceeded the fine address 
to the departed spirit of his father-in-law. 

h The text is left by the copyists in a mangled condition. The 
words, as they stand, cannot be reduced to any kind of sense. Admi- 
ralicne te p&tius, temporalibus laudibus, et, sinatura suppedidel mili- 
tum decoremus. Lipsius and Grotius have contributed their assist- 
ance. The former reads, Admimtione te potius^ te temporalibus lau- 
dibus; and (instead of milttum, which is totally unintelligible) Gro- 
tius adds, similitudine decoremus. Out of the word si.mifitv.dme a 
bad transcriber might make militum. La Bletterie thinks it might be 
mnufatu. 

1 Pliny, the consul, returned thanks to Tacitus for desiring an ac- 
count of the elder Pliny's death, that he might transmit it with truth 
to posterity. His uncle, he says, if celebrated by such a writer, will 
be immortal Pliny, b. vi. epist 16. That part, however, of our 
author's work* has not come down to us, and the prophecy has so far 
failed The prediction of Tacitus is completely verified : Agricola is 
rendered immortal ; he lives in the historian's page, and will continue 
to do so, as long as men retain a taste for the best and truest model <$? 
biography. 

THE END. 



4ft. v - Is 

771* 






